WASHINGTON — Senator Mitch McConnell broke his public silence on Sunday, revealing that a severe fall and a subsequent bout of pneumonia have kept him away from the Senate floor for nearly a month. The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican disclosed that the incident left him briefly unconscious, prompting an immediate admission to a hospital for extensive medical testing.
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Subscribe Sekarang →According to a statement released by his office, McConnell has since transitioned from the hospital to a rehabilitation center. The veteran lawmaker is currently undergoing intensive physical therapy to regain his strength. "My doctors have confirmed that I didn't break any bones or suffer a concussion. I didn't have a heart attack or a stroke. I don't have any tumors or hemorrhages," McConnell stated, seeking to quell rising speculation regarding his condition.
The senator attributed his recent mobility challenges to the lingering, long-term effects of childhood polio. He noted that managing these physical difficulties has not grown easier with age. The update marks the first detailed account of his condition following weeks of sparse public information from his aides.
Based on a statement from the Office of the Attending Physician, McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 after falling at his home. Doctors discovered no fractures or cardiac abnormalities, but the senator developed pneumonia early in his stay, which responded well to antibiotics. The remainder of his treatment has focused tightly on physical therapy and mitigating future fall risks.
This health crisis arrives at a tense moment for the upper chamber, following the sudden death of South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on July 11 from an aortic dissection. The loss of Graham, combined with McConnell's prolonged absence, has intensified scrutiny on the health and longevity of the Senate's most senior members.
McConnell, who previously announced he will not seek reelection and will retire at the end of his term in January 2027, maintained that he will complete his service. "On the advice of my doctors, I won't be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet," he said. "I still have unfinished business to complete on your behalf, and I have every intention of finishing the job."