McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, remained in China during his hospitalization

Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao went to China and stayed there; her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. was taken to hospital.

Although her condition remained a mystery as rumors circulated, a spokesperson for Chao told Fox News Digital that the situation was not serious enough for her to cancel the trip.

“The secretary was on a long-planned trip to China to support his family’s philanthropic efforts,” the spokesman said. “During the trip, he met with many people, including the US ambassador. The senator’s health condition did not require his immediate return to the US.”

MCCONNELL WAS FOUND ‘UNCONSCIOUS’ IN HIS HOME LAST MONTH AS HIS CONDITION WAS UNKNOWN

Chao later returned to the United States, while McConnell entered his third week of hospitalization. However, the exact nature of his current status and the timetable for his return to the Senate have not yet been announced.

His office is keeping quiet about what exactly is going on with the 84-year-old longest-serving Senate Republican leader in history, who is expected to retire at the end of his term this year. Instead, the void was filled with an online rumor pumping out speculation about what exactly was going on with the lawmaker.

Conservative commentator Laura Loomer said, claimed that A “senior source close to the White House” said McConnell was “brain dead” and the lawmaker “will never come back.”

HOUSE DEM WAS RECOMMENDED FOR TRANSPARENCY BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AFTER EXPLAINING THE REASON FOR HIS GOP COLLEAGUE’S LONG EXAMINATION

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Loomer’s allegations.

His claim came after audio leaked from a source emergency shipment A phone call on June 14, the day McConnell was sent to the hospital, revealed that the longtime Senate Republican was “unconscious” and may have had a heart attack.

When asked about the accuracy of Loomer’s claims, McConnell’s office shared with Fox News Digital the same statement he made a week ago.

“Senator McConnell appreciates the support he has received as he continues to recover in the hospital,” a McConnell spokesman said. “The Senator continues to improve and works closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate issues while the Senate is out of session.”

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

Meanwhile, Republican leaders in the Senate are working to eliminate the rumor cycle. Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Majority Rep. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said they had spoken to McConnell by phone in the past 48 hours; The last time both top Republicans spoke publicly with McConnell was a few days after McConnell was hospitalized.

A spokesman for Thune said the two spoke by phone on Monday and had “a lengthy and comprehensive conversation covering a variety of topics, including national security.”

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Kate Noyes, a spokeswoman for Barrasso, said the No. 2 Senate Republican and McConnell spoke at length early Tuesday afternoon.

“The phone calls lasted approximately 20 minutes. They heard the latest news affecting the Senate races, the Graham Platner scandal and the Supreme Court’s recent decision on coordinated spending limits,” Noyes said.

“They also discussed the Senate’s July study period, including the need to pass the NDAA and confirm President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence,” he continued. “Senator McConnell has been fully engaged and can’t wait to get back to the Senate.”