Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who not long ago was the Senate Republican Leader, has announced that he will no longer seek reelection, the Daily Caller reported. 

McConnell, now 83, has had a number of embarrassing public moments involving obvious health issues, including freezing up behind the microphone on several occasions as well as taking falls that left him injured.

Aside from his falling out with President Donald Trump, which certainly didn't help his reputation and polling numbers, many agreed that it's far past time for McConnell to call it quits.

McConnell led the Republican conference in the upper chamber for nearly two decades, which many believe was far too long, especially given his policy stances on certain issues.

What did he say?

McConnell made the announcement on the Senate floor this week, confirming that he will not seek an eighth term in the Senate.

Seven times, my fellow Kentuckians have sent me to the Senate,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday.

"Every day in between I’ve been humbled by the trust they’ve placed in me to do their business here. Representing our commonwealth has been the honor of a lifetime. I will not seek this honor an eighth time. My current term in the Senate will be my last."

🚨BREAKING: RINO Mitch McConnell will not be seeking reelection in 2026. pic.twitter.com/RyIL3tlZCY

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) February 20, 2025

"Thanks to Ronald Reagan’s determination, the work of strengthening American hard power was well underway when I arrived in the Senate,” McConnell continued.

"But since then, we’ve allowed that power to atrophy. And today, a dangerous world threatens to outpace the work of rebuilding it. So, lest any of our colleagues still doubt my intentions for the remainder of my term: I have some unfinished business to attend to."

Social media reacts

From a legacy perspective, the reaction to McConnell's news across social media was sad, as it was along the lines of "good riddance."

"He has already caused too much damage - Now would be a better time to go," one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, "Everyone knows this. It’s why he’s been showing his true colors of late."

McConnell could have ended his long career on a much more positive note, but he made his choices and now he'll have to retire with them.