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.
After speaking with Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell from the hospital this week, Scott Jennings was pressed about the conversation and even urged to call the politician during a live television appearance.
Jennings, a commentator and longtime adviser to Mr. McConnell, wrote in a July 7 post on X that he spoke with Mr. McConnell for about 20 minutes that morning.
“He is still recovering in the hospital,” Jennings wrote. “We talked for just under 20 minutes…about the unfolding situation in Iran, Ukraine, and Maine, our visit to the TR Presidential Library, and a little about the history of the Senate. I told him I wanted to see him back to work as soon as possible.”
Hours later, Jennings appeared on CNN’s “The Arena,” where other guests and host Casey Hunt pressed for details of the conversation.
McConnell, 84, has been hospitalized since June 14. His office has not disclosed the details of his treatment, leading to speculation about his health status.
Scott Jennings addresses ‘crazy’ rumors about Mitch McConnell
During an appearance on “The Arena,” Jennings provided few details about McConnell’s hospitalization other than to emphasize “his desire to keep things private.”
After Mr. Hunt asked Mr. McConnell to call him on the air, Mr. Jennings said with a laugh: “To be honest, I wasn’t expecting him to call me this morning, so when the phone rang and I was able to talk to him, I was frankly pretty grateful.”
Jennings also addressed McConnell’s theories on health.
“There are all kinds of rumors going around that he’s dead, that he’s brain dead, or that his body is hidden somewhere. I’ve seen all kinds of crazy things on the internet,” Jennings said. “That’s obviously not true because he picked up the phone and called me.”
McConnell speaks with senators
In addition to Jennings, several of McConnell’s senators said they had recently spoken with the 84-year-old.
Aides confirmed that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and Senate Majority Leader John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) met with McConnell on July 6 and July 7, respectively.
On July 6, Mr. Thune spoke with Mr. McConnell on a variety of topics, including national security, and the conversation was “long and substantive,” a spokesperson for Mr. Thune said in a statement.
The next day, Barrasso met with McConnell for about 20 minutes to discuss upcoming Senate activities, the latest Supreme Court news and the Maine Senate race, among other topics, according to a statement from Barrasso spokeswoman Kate Noyes.
“Senator McConnell is fully committed and eager to return to the Senate,” Noyes said.
Latest information on Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization
McConnell was hospitalized on the morning of June 14, his spokesman David Popp confirmed at the time. His office did not provide details about the reason for his hospitalization.
On the morning of June 14, audio from an emergency call to the address listed in records as McConnell’s longtime Washington, D.C., address showed someone at the scene unconscious. A few minutes later, another call came in saying someone was in “cardiac arrest.”
McConnell’s office, asked for comment on the audio by USA TODAY on July 1, would not confirm or deny whether the longtime senator was involved in the call.
On July 1, McConnell’s aides also issued a statement saying that he “continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate issues while the Senate is in session.” Both men issued the same statements in response to USA TODAY’s requests for comment on July 7.
Contributor: Zachary Schermele
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. X Keep up with her at @melinakh and on Instagram @bymelinakhan.
