Former U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized nearly three weeks after being admitted following an undisclosed medical emergency, his office reported Thursday. The 84-year-old senator continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while recovering from the incident.
According to spokesman David Popp in a statement, “Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital.” This update marks the first indication from McConnell’s office that the Kentucky Republican has remained hospitalized since being admitted on June 14. The office has not disclosed the nature of his illness or identified the hospital where he is being treated.
Reports based on emergency dispatch audio indicate first responders were called to McConnell’s Washington home on June 14 for an unconscious person, with CPR in progress and a possible cardiac arrest reported. However, McConnell’s office declined to comment on those reports or confirm the circumstances surrounding his hospitalization.
McConnell has not appeared in the Senate since before his hospitalization. The chamber is currently in its Independence Day recess and scheduled to return July 13. Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, stated he spoke with McConnell and confirmed the veteran lawmaker remained engaged with Senate business despite his absence from Capitol Hill.
McConnell stepped down as Senate Republican leader in January 2025 after serving nearly two decades as the party’s leader. He announced last year he would not seek an eighth Senate term and plans to retire when his current term expires in January. The seven-term senator has experienced multiple health setbacks recently, including public episodes where he briefly froze while speaking, falls, and an eight-day hospitalization in February for flu-like symptoms. He has frequently used a wheelchair in recent months while navigating the Capitol.
