No one saw this coming. Its a situation you hope you never see.
And a Democrat congressman had a medical emergency on the House floor in a scary turn of events.
Rep. John Larson experienced a startling moment on the House floor when he suddenly stalled mid-sentence and appeared frozen during a speech. His team later attributed the incident to an “adverse reaction” to a medication that was recently prescribed to him.
The 76-year-old Connecticut Democrat was addressing concerns over Social Security, following the Trump administration’s recent decision to grant Elon Musk access to sensitive payment information in the U.S. Treasury Department. While delivering his remarks, Larson abruptly came to a halt, struggling to continue his speech.
“Don’t worry, no one on the Republican side of the House and US Senate who control both the House and Senate is going to speak up—,” he said before cutting himself off, staring ahead motionless for several moments.
He eventually resumed speaking, though his words were slow and slightly slurred. “And challenge us…,” he continued. “But we need to … protect Americans’ privacy and … their Social Security.”
Although he managed to finish his remarks, Larson’s delivery lost its earlier energy, with his struggle evident throughout the remainder of his speech.
As the clip of the moment began circulating on X, his office swiftly issued a statement to address concerns.
“Congressman Larson appreciates the well wishes from everyone who has reached out. This afternoon, he had what was likely an adverse reaction to a new medication and is having tests administered by the House Attending Physician out of an abundance of caution,” his team stated.
“He later participated in multiple meetings in his office and was alert and engaged. The Congressman remains in touch with his staff and in good spirits,” the statement added.
Medical incidents among aging lawmakers have become more common, especially in the Senate, where the average age is approximately 65, according to the Pew Research Center.
One of the most notable cases is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who turns 83 in just days.
McConnell has had a series of public falls, including one in the Senate chambers that gave him a sprained wrist, and two more last week in front of reporters.
He has also experienced freeze-ups during speeches, raising concerns about his health.
In response to his poor mobility, largely attributed to the lingering effects of polio in his left leg, McConnell has begun using a wheelchair more frequently.
With high-profile health scares continuing to emerge, questions surrounding the fitness of aging lawmakers remain a growing point of discussion within American politics. Are these really the people we want leading our nation right now?
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
