He was the guest of honor at the Kentucky Chamber's annual meeting.

Business and civic leaders gathered in Louisville to celebrate the longtime leadership of U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell.

Our Laura Rogers was there and has this recap.

Lightning only strikes once.

It's always said, and it has struck the state of Kentucky had Mitch McConnell.

It was a night to celebrate the longest serving party leader in the history of the U.S.

Senate.

I'm a McConnell boy.

Damn proud of it.

With praise for his efforts to elevate the state and nation's business interests.

Longevity and leadership is not just about year served, but responsibility.

Carry.

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has carried that responsibility more than four decades.

We're talking about the most classical central Kentucky leader of our time.

House Speaker David Osborne saying McConnell's legacy is, quote, woven into the fabric of Kentucky's history.

Leader McConnell has always been first and foremost, a Kentuckian in every decision, every vote and every negotiation reflects that grounding.

That includes infrastructure projects like federal funding for Northern Kentucky's Brant Spence Bridge.

McConnell has also had a major impact on the federal judiciary.

Under his leadership, the Senate has confirmed more than 200 federal judges and three Supreme Court justices.

His impact on the United States will last 30 and 40 years beyond his term.

Thinking of the long game, McConnell sitting down with Republican state Senator Julie Rocky Adams.

He says his current priority is national defense and foreign policy.

Having awards a lot more expensive than anyone.

Is it a serious challenge?

The biggest challenge in the world?

As chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

He'd like to see increased military spending and an end to the tariffs.

So we're in a terrible war with our allies and not doing enough to be ready or are potential enemies.

He also continued to express support for sending U.S.

aid to Ukraine.

I can guarantee you Ronald Reagan would roll over in his grave if he knew that we were reluctant to give the Ukrainians what they need to shoot Russia.

McConnell, acknowledging the tense political climate, calling it a very divided time in the country, but says compromise is essential.

The Constitution itself is just a whole series.

Of compromises.

And yet today, I think a lot of people think you get results by just being angry.

Much of that anger, often directed at party leadership, lends itself to some humor.

So Chuck Schumer's approval rating the other day, it was 21%.

I'm going to talk to him this week and say, I know what it's like for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Back to this.

Thank you Laura.

At times, president of Donald Trump and Senator McConnell have been at odds.

But he praised President Trump last night for his role in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.