Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) suffered a nasty fall on the Senate floor, prompting colleagues in both parties to rush to her aid.
The moment was captured live on C-SPAN.
The lawmaker waved to somebody on the chamber floor, then leaned on a small desk with her arms folded, causing her to lose balance and fall down.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) rushed to help Warren get up as other lawmakers watched in concern.
WATCH:
A video of the incident went viral on social media, with some citing it as a sign that the 76-year-old should retire.
But others were more forgiving.
“Guys, come on,” wrote one conservative user.
“She leaned against a desk, and the desk weighed three ounces.
“This could happen to anyone. Let’s not be them.
“THEY’RE the ones who do this.”
Questions about age have increasingly gripped the Capitol, with three House Democrats dying in office this year.
Several prominent lawmakers are in their 80s, and Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is 91.
Warren’s fall came as the Senate voted on 83-year-old Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) proposal to block the sale of American weaponry to Israel, which has faced international condemnation over its bombardment of Gaza.
The resolution failed, with every Republican voting no and 27 Democrats, including Warren, voting in favor.
Once seen as a rising star on the progressive left, Warren has seen her influence wane since her 2020 presidential campaign fizzled out.
The millionaire and former professor became known in the 2010s for her wonky brand of tax-the-rich liberalism that appealed to college-educated progressives.
She has faced criticism through the years over her controversial claims to Cherokee heritage.
Warren infamously attempted to prove her claims with a DNA test, sparking backlash from native tribes.
Ironically, the test showed Warren has no more Cherokee heritage than the average American.
Warren took the test as she prepared to run for president in 2020, and after pressure from President Trump, who labeled her “Pocahontas.”
Trump also poked fun at Warren over a notorious campaign video in which she awkwardly drank beer in her kitchen.
“Best line in the Elizabeth Warren beer catastrophe is, to her husband, ‘Thank you for being here. I’m glad you’re here,'” Trump wrote at the time on X, then known as Twitter.
“It’s their house, he’s supposed to be there!”
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