WATCH: Pelosi Barely Able To Walk In Latest Public Appearance

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 84, was seen hobbling to her van Thursday, struggling to maintain her balance following hip replacement surgery. Pelosi, who fell on a marble staircase at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg last month, has been facing a difficult recovery.

The incident resulted in a fractured hip, requiring emergency surgery. While her spokesperson, Ian Krager, assured the public that Pelosi was receiving “excellent treatment” from medical professionals, her recent public struggles have reignited the national conversation about the advanced age of many in Washington’s political elite.

The sight of Pelosi—once known for navigating Capitol Hill in four-inch stilettos—now relying on crutches and wearing more practical footwear is a large contrast to her past image. Despite her evident physical limitations, Pelosi has maintained her stance that President Donald Trump is “unwell” and unfit for office, even as she faces increasing scrutiny over her own ability to serve effectively in her advanced years.

Pelosi’s injury follows a troubling trend among elderly members of Congress. The footage comes just one day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 82, reportedly suffered another fall and was seen leaving in a wheelchair.

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On Wednesday, McConnell reportedly fell on the Senate stairs after casting his vote to confirm Scott Turner as the new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) assisted him at the scene. The 83-year-old senator has a history of health issues, including a fall in March 2023 that resulted in a concussion and fractured rib.

Despite these incidents, both Pelosi and McConnell remain entrenched in leadership roles, refusing to step aside for a younger generation.

WASHINGTON, DC – March 13, 2024: U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) arrives for a press conference in support of American aid to Ukraine.

The repeated health scares of Washington’s most powerful figures are fueling renewed calls for term limits and age restrictions for members of Congress. Under current rules, there is no maximum age for serving in the House or Senate, allowing politicians to remain in power indefinitely as long as they continue to be reelected.

For older adults, a fractured hip is often a serious injury that requires an extended recovery period. Medical professionals note that even with successful surgery, regaining full mobility can take several months. At 84, Pelosi’s ability to endure the long hours and demands of her position remains in question.

On January 6 earlier this year, Pelosi, was seen using a walker on the House floor following her fall.

Her return to the House coincided with a historic certification of the 2024 presidential election results, in which Vice President Kamala Harris officially acknowledged President Trump’s victory for a second term.