Sen. Mitch McConnell Breaks Silence on Health, Says Fall Led to Hospitalization – The Epoch Times

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 25, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) released a statement on July 12 saying that he was hospitalized last month because of a fall, after days of speculation about the longtime lawmaker’s health.

In a statement to multiple media outlets on the evening of July 12, McConnell said that he suffered a fall in June that left him unconscious for a brief period. He also had a mild case of pneumonia, according to the statement.

“My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion,” he said in the statement. “I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages. But I was briefly unconscious and was taken to the hospital. While receiving excellent care over the past several weeks, I’ve also had to deal with a mild case of pneumonia.”

He also released a photo to multiple outlets, showing him in a hospital bed with his wife, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.

McConnell, a former senate Republican leader, said in his statement: “As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet.

“But rest assured that, in the meantime, I’m not taking a break from the Senate business that matters to you. I’ve been working closely with my legislative staff on current issues, and with my Kentucky team who help me provide timely constituent services across our Commonwealth. I’ve also been keeping in touch with my Senate colleagues on the appropriations process, midterm politics, and everything in between.”

The statement comes after McConnell was admitted to the hospital on June 14. For weeks, his office provided little to no information about his condition and did not say why he was admitted, prompting speculation about the 84-year-old’s condition.

Last week, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, asked McConnell to update the public about his health in a transparent fashion, because “over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the health and well-being” of the senator.

“Allowing speculation to continue in the media is not fair to the senator or to Kentuckians, and my hope is that this provides him the opportunity to share the information in a transparent manner, direct from the source,” the governor, who would be tasked with holding a special election to replace McConnell if he were to leave the Senate for any reason, said.

Multiple Republican senators, meanwhile, have said they spoke with McConnell over the phone. A former McConnell aide and current CNN analyst, Scott Jennings, also wrote on X that he spoke with his former boss.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) spoke to McConnell by phone, said Barrasso spokeswoman Kate Noyes in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on July 7.

“Senator Barrasso and Senator McConnell had a lengthy conversation early this afternoon,” Noyes said. “Their phone call lasted roughly 20 minutes. They caught up about the latest news impacting Senate races, the Graham Platner scandal, and the recent Supreme Court ruling on coordinated spending limits.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who was the Senate No. 2 to McConnell when he was the GOP leader, also spoke with him last week, his office confirmed.

McConnell was elected to the Senate in 1984 and was the Republican leader from 2007 until 2025, serving as both majority and minority leader during that time period. He has remained active as a rank-and-file senator, showing up for work when the chamber is in session, and has been seen using a wheelchair.

McConnell’s office did not immediately respond to an Epoch Times request for comment on July 12.