The rumors of Sen. Mitch McConnell’s death have been, apparently, greatly exaggerated.
Following widespread social media speculation, including a prominent MAGA figurehead tweeting that McConnell had been declared “brain dead,” multiple GOP leaders and pundits have said they’ve talked at length with the senator over the last few days.
Scott Jennings, a Republican pundit from Kentucky, said Tuesday he spoke to McConnell for nearly 20 minutes, running through a list of topics from Iran to Ukraine to Senate history.
“I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible,” Jennings said.
McConnell’s team also pointed to other tweets signaling McConnell had talked with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Whip John Barrasso.
A Thune spokesperson classified the call as a “lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security.” A Barrasso spokesperson said the two had talked for about 20 minutes, including about “the Graham Platner scandal, and the recent Supreme Court ruling on coordinated spending limits.”
McConnell’s team did not provide an update on the senator’s condition Tuesday afternoon, instead directing reporters to a comment from late last week saying McConnell continues to recover in the hospital and is improving.
McConnell, 84, was first hospitalized in mid-June for unknown reasons. Since then, few updates have been shared about his condition, sparking social media speculation that mounted to claims the senator was either incapacitated or deceased.
The Republican had already planned on retiring at the end of the year, with Republican Andy Barr and Democrat Charles Booker set to face off for his seat in November’s general election. If McConnell is to resign or die while in office, Kentucky law requires the seat be filled via election.
