Mitch McConnell

President Donald Trump called for a staffer to be "immediately fired" for making Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., "look foolish and completely out of it" near the end of a Tuesday committee hearing.

The incident occurred during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing featuring War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

As McConnell appeared ready to adjourn the session, a staffer approached the chairman and informed him that additional senators still had questions.

McConnell began to wrap up proceedings before the aide interrupted to note that Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and John Kennedy, R-La., were still seeking recognition.

McConnell then reversed course and handed control to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to continue the hearing.

Trump blasted the staffer in a fiery Truth Social post, identifying him as Robert Karem and accusing him of grandstanding.

"The guy that came up to Mitch McConnell today when McConnell thought the hearing was over, and started speaking in his ear for Mitch to belatedly introduce some other people ... and, by doing so, made Mitch look foolish and completely out of it, should be immediately fired!" Trump wrote.

Trump argued McConnell had not been confused, but rather was caught off guard because lawmakers and attendees were preparing to leave.

"This was a case where Mitch wasn't confused, he just didn't understand why he was being asked to do something when it was too late," Trump wrote. "They wanted to go home."

The president also described Karem as a "Never Trumper" with strong backing from Democrats and Obama-era officials.

Trump further suggested Karem may be influencing McConnell's opposition to eliminating the Senate filibuster and resistance to advancing what Trump called the "SAVE AMERICA ACT."

Karem currently serves as Majority Clerk for the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense under McConnell, who has been a harsh critic of the president.

Karem previously worked in national security roles during Trump's first administration, including as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.

He also advised former Florida Republican Gov. Jeb Bush and worked with former Vice President Dick Cheney.

The episode renewed scrutiny surrounding McConnell, 83, whose health has drawn attention in recent years following several falls and public freezing incidents.

McConnell has maintained that he remains fully capable of serving in the Senate despite concerns from critics and political observers.