Health and Politics: The Story of a Senior Senator

An 84‑year‑old former Senate leader was admitted to a hospital on Sunday, but officials have not said why. His office confirmed the visit, yet no details about his illness were released. A spokesperson noted that he remains active with staff and appreciates the care he receives. The incident is part of a pattern. Earlier in February, the senator spent eight days in treatment for flu‑like symptoms. In October he fell at the Capitol while being questioned about immigration raids, and in December he suffered a wrist injury from another fall. A month earlier, he sustained a concussion after tripping on the steps.After stepping down from the Senate’s top position in early 2025, he has become a vocal critic of former President Trump. He opposed the nomination of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary in January, arguing that he did not understand China’s threat. He also was the sole Republican to reject Tulsi Gabbard for intelligence chief and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary. The senator’s disagreements with Trump date back to the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. He has clashed over tariff policies and the United States’ stance on Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. A biography described him once as calling Trump a “despicable human being. ” He is expected to retire when his seventh Senate term ends in January, marking the end of a long and sometimes contentious political career.