Crowd Heckles Sen. Mitch McConnell At Fancy Farm Speech: ‘Retire!’

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) was mocked and heckled on Saturday while delivering a breakfast speech at the Fancy Farm Picnic in his home state.

McConnell has long lost the favor of the party’s right-wing after he spoke out against former President Donald Trump after the January 6 Capitol attack. As he delivered his speech and expressed excitement on behalf of his wife, Elaine Chao, and himself to be there, the crowd mercilessly showered him with chants of “retire,” “shame on you,” “ditch Mitch” and “lost the Senate,” which was documented in several viral social media videos.

The 143rd Annual St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic is the longstanding event that marks the commencement of the fall campaign season. This year, the picnic hosted 20 Democratic and Republican speakers.

As McConnell remained unfazed by the reverberating boos, he said, “My friends, I’ll be honest, it’s not hard for Republicans to look good these days.”

Confirming speculation that he has no plans to retire anytime soon, the Senate minority leader added, “Well, this is my 28th Fancy Farm, and I want to assure you, it’s not my last.”

He also criticized Gov. Andy Beshear (D-Kentucky) for the Covid-19 restrictions and focused on criticizing Democrats who had “turned their backs on rural America.” McConnell also expressed support for state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is challenging Beshear.

Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to mock McConnell further.

“I AGREE!,” he wrote. “BOOOOO—RETIRE, RETIRE, RETIRE—BOOOOO!!!”

McConnell’s speech at the picnic has stirred conversations about his health concerns yet again. Last month, at a weekly Republican news conference, McConnell alarmed his colleagues and spectators when he froze up for 19 seconds while answering questions, before being escorted out by Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso.

He returned briefly after and said he felt lightheaded. After suffering from a concussion, fall and hospitalization, the Republican leader has had a tough year.

However, soon after the health scare, he promised to serve his full term as the Republican leader. Already the longest-serving Senate party leader in American history, his term does not end until  January 2025.

Article by Debadrita Sur