Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was reportedly found unconscious at his Washington, D.C. home on June 14, the same day he was hospitalized. Emergency dispatch audio, released recently, indicated that an Advanced Life Support response was requested for the Kentucky Republican.
McConnell, 82, has been absent from the Senate since the incident, and his office has not provided details regarding his current condition, the reason for his hospitalization, or a timeline for his return to the chamber. His spokesperson, David Popp, previously stated that McConnell was admitted to the hospital and was "receiving excellent care," adding that the senator was "working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who has been leading Senate Republican efforts in McConnell's absence, stated that McConnell is still engaged with Senate business. "He’s clearly dialed in to what’s going on," Thune said. "He’s following along with stuff we are doing this week up here. Very much so."
This is not the first health incident McConnell has experienced this year. He was hospitalized in February for eight days due to flu-like symptoms. Over the past few years, he has had several public and private medical episodes, including falling and sustaining a concussion in 2023, another fall in July of that year, two instances of freezing up in front of cameras shortly after, a fall at a Senate Republican lunch in 2024, and tripping in the Senate basement last year. McConnell announced earlier this year that he will not seek re-election at the end of his current term, marking the end of his tenure as Senate Republican leader.