The Kentucky lawmaker has met with the top two Senate Republicans in recent days, a congressional aide told USA TODAY.
Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health: Here’s what you need to know
Sen. Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized three weeks later. USA TODAY’s Melina Khan reports on what we know and what we don’t know.
WASHINGTON – Amid questions surrounding Mitch McConnell’s health, the longtime Republican senator has been making long phone calls to other Republicans in recent days, a congressional aide told USA TODAY.
McConnell, 84, met with Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming from the hospital on Tuesday, July 7. Barrasso spokeswoman Kate Noyes said the conversation lasted about 20 minutes, during which they discussed upcoming Senate work, the latest Supreme Court news and the Maine Senate race.
“Senator McConnell is fully committed and eager to return to the Senate,” Noyes said.
The day before, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) also met with McConnell. The discussion touched on national security topics, and Thune characterized it as long and substantive.
McConnell’s support will help quell at least some of the speculation surrounding his health. Although he has been hospitalized for about a month, his office has provided few details about what happened, saying only that his symptoms continue to improve.
“Senator McConnell is grateful for the tremendous support he is receiving as he continues his recovery in the hospital,” spokesman David Popp said in a statement. “The senators continue to improve and are working closely with their staff on Kentucky and Senate issues while the Senate is out of session.”
Concerns about McConnell’s condition became widespread after audio of an emergency call to his home surfaced last month.
Just before 9 a.m. on June 14, emergency responders were called to the address listed in records as the senator’s residence. The first publicly available emergency call indicated a person at the scene was unconscious. Another call a few minutes later revealed someone in “cardiac arrest.”
When USA TODAY recently asked for comment on reports about the audio, McConnell’s office would not confirm or deny that he was involved in the call.
The Senate returns to session next week.
Zachary Schermele is USA TODAY’s Congressional Correspondent. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social..
