Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said he is in fine health Thursday after critics and others questioned a photo showing his hands bruised and discolored.
“This photo of Mitch McConnell’s hands from yesterday,” a political action committee dedicated to removing President Trump from office, MeidasTouch, tweeted Wednesday, accompanied by the photo of McConnell’s hands.
This photo of Mitch McConnell’s hands from yesterday pic.twitter.com/9x5x2UhxvJ
— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) October 21, 2020
Others joined in wondering about the Kentucky Republican’s health, with reactions ranging from comparing McConnell to a character in Lovecraft Country, a horror television show about the occult, to suggesting he has failed to disclose a medical condition.
This is indicative of a LOT of IVs. What is Mitch hiding about this health? https://t.co/ntKjxa7FGI
— Greg Pinelo (@gregpinelo) October 21, 2020
*stares in Lovecraft Country* https://t.co/CZ1RrPQpVn
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) October 21, 2020
This *is* odd. What the heck is going on with Mitch McConnell’s hands? The image is legit: https://t.co/SqG15b3tEL pic.twitter.com/Nmf0EXAZxh
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) October 21, 2020
Uhhhhh look at this picture of Mitch McConnell’s hands that @lizzyratner found on AP pic.twitter.com/Y4LJL7mAdh
— Annie Shields (@anastasiakeeley) October 21, 2020
I hope Mitch McConnell isn’t in poor health but his hands look gnarly (images from Getty) pic.twitter.com/2vXuqsbliw
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 22, 2020
McConnell dismissed rumors that he is concealing a health condition Thursday.
“Do you have some kind of health issue?” Politico reporter John Bresnahan asked McConnell. “Do you have some kind of health issue?”
“I’ve been worried about your health, Bres. How are you feeling?” replied McConnell.
“But I’m serious, is there anything going on we should know about?” Bresnahan continued.
“Of course not,” replied McConnell.
Some on Twitter also pointed out that McConnell had polio as a two-year-old.
This is vile stuff, @BuzzFeedNews. Editor-in-chief Mark @SchoofsFeed and the writer of this piece (@ambiej) should be ashamed for going after Mitch McConnell (@Team_Mitch) in this way. Mitch had polio as a child, and the effects are still felt. https://t.co/GkxxX9dTwr
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) October 22, 2020
Mitch McConnell survived polio as a child, which is a disease that attacks the limbs, and whose lingering effects have affected his body ever since. You’re free to attack his politics any way you want, but don’t pretend you have the monopoly on empathy after shit like this. https://t.co/j41b4vax4a
— Anang Mittal अनंग मित्तल (@anangbhai) October 22, 2020
Post-Polio syndrome can appear decades after the initial illness and can cause patients to suffer from fatigue, muscle and joint weakness, pain, breathing problems, and sensitivity to cold, according to the Mayo Clinic.
McConnell’s office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment and has never publicly said he has been diagnosed with the syndrome.
