Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called the Senate “the most privileged nursing home in the country” after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze up for a second time while answering questions at a press conference.
Mrs. Haley, 51, said Mr. McConnell, 81, has accomplished “great things” and “deserves credit,” but added, “You have to know when to leave.”
She made the comments on Fox News after Mr. McConnell on Wednesday appeared momentarily paralyzed as he met with reporters in Covington, Kentucky. He recovered after about 30 seconds and answered more questions, but the incident raised new concerns about his health. Mr. McConnell suffered a similar freeze-up while meeting with reporters in the U.S. Capitol in July.
Ms. Haley questioned whether Mr. McConnell, President Biden, 80, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, remain fit for office.
“No one should feel good about seeing that any more than we should feel good about seeing Dianne Feinstein, any more than we should feel good about a lot of what’s happening or seeing Joe Biden’s decline,” Mrs. Haley said. “What I will say is, right now, the Senate is the most privileged nursing home in the country.”
Mrs. Feinstein, who has appeared mentally frail for months and has surrendered power of attorney to her daughter, has been urged to retire by Democrats and Republicans while Democrats fret over Mr. Biden’s own apparent mental decline as he runs for a second term.
“I think that we do need mental competency tests for anyone over the age of 75,” Mrs. Haley said. “I wouldn’t care if they did them over the age of 50. But these people are making decisions on our national security. They’re making decisions on our economy, on the border. We need to know they’re at the top of their game.”
Few Republicans are publicly pushing for Mr. McConnell to step aside.
The longest-serving Senate GOP leader released a letter Thursday from the attending physician in Congress, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, that attributed the Covington incident to dehydration and the effects from a concussion he suffered in a fall on March 9. Dr. Monahan cleared Mr. McConnell to return to his work schedule.
“I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team,” Dr. Monahan wrote. “After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned.”
Ms. Haley is not alone in her criticism of older members of Congress. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, wrote on X that “severe aging health issues and/or mental health incompetence in our nation’s leaders MUST be addressed.”
She cited as “not fit for office” Mr. McConnell, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Feinstein and Sen. John Fetterman, 54, a Pennsylvania Democrat who suffered a stroke last year and has difficulty communicating.
“These politicians’ staff and family members should be ashamed of themselves by enabling and allowing their loved ones to remain in office all to hold power,” Ms. Greene wrote. “We are talking about our country’s national security, and it’s all at stake.”
Rep. Tim Burchett, Tennessee Republican, told NBC News that Mr. McConnell’s family and staff “should agree it’s time.”
“I think too often these folks are more concerned about their future and not our country,” Mr. Burchett said.
Two other House Republicans told NBC anonymously that Mr. McConnell needs to be more “transparent” about his current health status.
“He’s obviously, you know, a proud man,” the anonymous lawmaker told NBC. “He’s been a strong leader. He relishes the position, and people in that position aren’t apt to give it up — until they wheel them out.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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