“As governor, I ask that you fully update Kentuckians on your health status... Allowing media speculation to continue is not fair.”
Andy Beshear, the Democratic governor of 84-year-old McConnell's home state of Kentucky, took the unusual step of writing an open letter to the veteran senator this week. In it, he emphasized the importance of acting with transparency as an elected politician - while wishing McConnell a speedy recovery.
Long conversation?
The letter was sent after weeks of questions and rumors. Far-right profile Laura Loomer, who is close to President Donald Trump, has claimed without evidence that McConnell is brain dead. And conservative media personality Glenn Beck, who has 2.2 million followers on X, writes there that the truth must come out: “It is unacceptable that the party that criticized Joe Biden’s health for four years is now silent about McConnell’s.”
The speculation gained extra momentum after a recording from the equivalent of SOS Alarm from June 14, when McConnell was admitted to the hospital, was spread on social media. It refers to a cardiac arrest and an unconscious person at the senator's address, reports Axios, among others.
The claim that Mitch McConnell's health is critical is contradicted by two of his Senate colleagues, Majority Leader John Thune and Party Whip John Barrasso, who said on Tuesday that they had a long conversation with him about, among other things, the situation in Iran and Ukraine. On the same day, McConnell's spokesperson said that the senator "appreciates the great support he is receiving as he continues to recover in the hospital."
But there is still no information about why he is there.
Longtime freethinker
His absence from the Senate, where Republicans have a narrow majority, makes it difficult for President Donald Trump to push through certain defense spending and, in the long term, possibly other legislation, according to Politico. McConnell heads a subcommittee that decides on defense appropriations.
Conservative Mitch McConnell has served in the Senate since 1985 and has served as both majority and minority leader. He has supported the president, but is also known as a freethinker with a strong belief in American institutions. After the 2021 storming of the Capitol, he criticized Trump for his “disgraceful” actions.
In recent years, McConnell's health has clearly faltered; he has fallen and suffered concussions and repeatedly lost his temper during press conferences. He has previously announced that this term will be his last.
Congress is the federal legislative assembly of the United States, based in the Capitol in the capital, Washington, D.C. Its work runs in two-year terms – the 119th Congress session began on January 3, 2025.
Congress consists of the Senate with 100 members, two from each state, and the House of Representatives with 435 seats distributed in relation to the states' populations.
In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 of the seats. South Dakota Senator John Thune is the majority leader and New York Democrat Chuck Schumer is the minority leader.
In the House of Representatives, Republicans have 218 seats, Democrats 212, four seats are vacant and one member is an independent. Mike Johnson is the Speaker and Hakeem Jeffries is the Minority Leader.
Congress enacts federal laws, decides on taxes and appropriations, and approves the state budget (whose fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30): Congress also reviews and approves ministers and other high-ranking officials – and can remove federal officials, including the president and judges, through impeachment.
Sources: US Congress, House Press Gallery
