GERONTOCRACY

GOP Senator, 73, Freezes During Fox Business Interview

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana had a freeze-up on Tuesday afternoon.

Septuagenarian Senator John Kennedy froze during a Fox Business interview on Tuesday.

During an interview with host Larry Kudlow, 77, about the Trump administration’s crackdown on sanctuary cities, Kennedy started to make a point about how Jesus loves immigrants before trailing off into a seven-second silence.

“Jesus loves them, but everybody else thinks,” Kennedy said before murmuring a couple more words and then freezing on camera.

Kennedy appeared to be unable to form words, and he remained on screen for five more seconds in silence before Kudlow cut in and chalked up the awkward gap to a technical issue.

“I guess we had some more technical problems. That was the same mic we lost with Senator Rand Paul,” Kudlow said. Kennedy had not spoken any words after freezing up.

A spokesperson for the Louisiana Republican did not respond to an immediate request for comment. The day after publication, a spokesman for Kennedy said that it was not a “health episode” but a “broadcast audio issue on Fox Business’s part.” They also pointed to Kudlow ending the interview after the freeze by saying, “Well anyway, it is good to see you Senator Kennedy, we’re gonna do this again soon. I’m sorry we had technical problems, we had a couple other things we wanted to raise with you.”

Kennedy’s official account on X posted twice after the interview aired, once to criticize Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and once to congratulate a New Orleans Saints football player on his retirement.

The sight of a gray-haired senator freezing during an interview is a familiar one for the GOP caucus.

In 2023, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell suffered two similar “freezing episodes” just weeks apart from each other.

While observing neurologists initially suspected that McConnell may have suffered a transient ischemic attack—a type of mini-stroke—the Capitol physician wrote in a statement that the Kentuckian’s episodes showed “no evidence” of a stroke or seizure disorder.

Ironically, Kennedy was one of the Senate Republicans who immediately dismissed suggestions that McConnell step down as majority leader, saying that would take place only “when donkeys fly.”

McConnell announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election in 2026.

Kennedy, who is known in the Senate for his distinctive Southern drawl and acerbic commentary during hearings, has not commented on whether he will pursue re-election in 2028. He passed on running for governor of Louisiana in 2023.

Over It

Mitch McConnell, 83, Will Not Seek Reelection Next Year

Amethyst Martinez

Health problems have emerged as a major point of tension for both parties over the past year, from scrutiny of Joe Biden’s cognition during his presidency to President Donald Trump’s recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency.

Kennedy does not even crack the list of the 10 oldest senators (the oldest, Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, is 91).

Editor’s note. This article has been updated to include comment which came from Sen. Kennedy’s office the day after publication. The comment makes clear that Sen. Kennedy’s office denied that he suffered a health issue.

See more of our coverage in your search results.

ADD THE DAILY BEAST ON GOOGLE

Jack SilversBreaking News Intern

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.