Josh Hawley demands McConnell team be transparent with constituents

As questions continue about the status of Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., issued a scathing rebuke of his team’s handling of the crisis, reminding them of their “obligation to your constituents.”

The 84-year-old former Senate majority leader has not been in the upper chamber for more than a month after falling at his home and being hospitalized. His absence, combined with the sudden death of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, left Senate Republicans trailing on two key votes amid a dead run to complete key parts of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, conservative populist Hawley said he wishes McConnell and his family well and hopes for recovery.

But at the same time, Hawley said, “At a certain point, you have an obligation to your voters and to the country to tell them what’s going on.”

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“Being outvoted,” Hawley continued, “We have a slim majority; it’s not easy.”

While Hawley said he would “defer” to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) on how to handle McConnell’s situation, he noted that the lack of GOP votes hurt priorities like the voter integrity measure, the SAVE America Act.

“I hear a lot from leaders: ‘We don’t have the votes for this.’ Like voter ID, we don’t have votes for that. “Well, we might want to do something about that,” he said.

Hawley also said he was “completely in the dark” about McConnell’s condition, adding, “I had no idea what his health was.”

“I hope he gets better, but I also hope they provide transparency to help people know what the situation is,” he said.

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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 20: Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is pushed into a wheelchair at the U.S. Capitol on February 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. McConnell, 83, a seven-term Kentucky Senator and Republican leader for 18 years, announced that he will not seek re-election and will retire after his current term. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Asked if he believes McConnell’s position requires an age limit to hold office, Hawley quickly responded: “I’m a term-limits guy, so I’m all for that.”

“Nothing against our older colleagues,” he continued. Pointing to 92-year-old Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, he said: “Chuck is very sharp and agile and things like that.”

“But I think there should be term limits. People come here and stay forever. I think that’s what the founders intended; I don’t think that’s what people wanted. That’s why I’ve always been a big proponent of a constitutional amendment on term limits.”

McConnell is completing his seventh term in the Senate. He was first elected to the chamber in 1984. This June, he was hospitalized after falling at his home in Washington, D.C. He later developed pneumonia while in the hospital.

After a long silence, McConnell released an open letter to Kentuckians citing the senator’s extended absence. McConnell attributed his decline to mobility issues left over from his childhood battle with polio.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks at a press conference with other members of the Senate Republican leadership following a policy luncheon on October 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Nathan Posner/Anatolia via Getty Images)

He acknowledged that, on the advice of his doctors, he “cannot return to the Senate chamber to vote yet.”

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But McConnell said, “I have every intention of finishing the job you elected me to do,” adding, “I will continue to work hard to return to the Senate floor as soon as possible.”

He also promised to keep his constituents updated on the progress of his recovery.