{"id":2627826,"date":"2026-07-10T07:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T11:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mia-mitch-mcconnell-must-explain-his-absence-or-retire\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T07:53:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T11:53:55","slug":"mia-mitch-mcconnell-must-explain-his-absence-or-retire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mia-mitch-mcconnell-must-explain-his-absence-or-retire\/","title":{"rendered":"MIA Mitch McConnell Must Explain His Absence Or Retire"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmia-mitch-mcconnell-must-explain-his-absence-or-retire%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2627826&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the concerning and mysterious health status of Senator Mitch McConnell following his hospitalization in June after suffering a cardiac arrest. Despite reports of recovery, McConnellS absence from the Senate and lack of transparent communication have sparked widespread speculation about his condition, with some claims suggesting he may be brain dead. Critics highlight that Senate rules require senators to disclose reasons for long absences, which McConnell&#8217;s team has not done, leading to calls for him to resign if he cannot fulfill his duties. His absence has also impacted Senate proceedings, including committee work on defense policy and budget bills. While some officials and sources affirm he is alive and recovering,the lack of concrete facts has fueled conspiracy theories and concerns among colleagues and constituents alike.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>He\u2019s dead. No, he\u2019s alive. He\u2019s brain dead. He\u2019s living in a Barstow Motel 6 under an assumed name with Elvis.<\/p>\n<p>The political and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-shanghai-pandemic-worker-beats-corgi-to-death-after-family-quarantined\/\" title=\"Report: Shanghai Pandemic Worker Beats Corgi to Death After Family Quarantined\">social media spheres<\/a> have been buzzing for nearly a month about <a href=\"https:\/\/bioguideretro.congress.gov\/Home\/MemberDetails?memIndex=m000355\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sen. Addison Mitchell McConnell\u2019s<\/a> state of \u2026\u00a0 existence. The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlky.com\/article\/mitch-mcconnell-medical-care-admitted-hospital\/71581982\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reportedly<\/a> was admitted to a D.C.-area hospital on June 14 after he suffered \u201ccardiac arrest\u201d at his Capitol Hill townhouse.<\/p>\n<p>And then he just seemed to disappear. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHave you spoken to Sen. Mitch McConnell?\u201d a reporter <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=43gT1GSDATw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">asked <\/a>President Donald Trump on Thursday. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo I haven\u2019t.\u201d Trump answered. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you know how he\u2019s doing?\u201d asked another. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have no idea how he\u2019s doing,\u201d the president said. <\/p>\n<p>Do his colleagues?<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">President Trump said on Wednesday evening that he hasn&#8217;t spoken to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) after his hospitalization in June. &#8220;I have no idea how he&#8217;s doing,&#8221; Trump said, as he was returning from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/s7reDsr5gA\">pic.twitter.com\/s7reDsr5gA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CBSNews\/status\/2075213396304105591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The upper house\u2019s rules are clear: senators must disclose to the Senate reasons for an extensive absence, as The Federalist\u2019s co-founder and CEO Sean Davis noted Thursday on X. It\u2019s not clear whether McConnell, who holds the record as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/senators\/longest-serving-party-leaders.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcconnell-wins-gop-senate-leadership-election-fends-off-challenge-from-rick-scott\/\" title=\"McConnell Wins GOP ... Leadership Election, Fends Off Challenge From Rick Scott\">longest-serving party leader<\/a><\/a> in the Senate\u2019s history, has followed the rules. <\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>Under paragraph 2 of Rule VI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, \u201cNo Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate<br \/>without leave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rather than communicating through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gen-milley-worried-trump-would-go-rogue-warned-chinas-top-general-in-secret-back-channel-phone-calls-book\/\" title=\"Gen. Milley Worried ... Would \u2018Go Rogue,... Warned China...s Top General In Secret \u2018Back-Channel... Phone ...: Book\">secret phone calls<\/a> or anonymous sources, McConnell has an obligation to disclose to the Senate the\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5qgI3SlUYe\">https:\/\/t.co\/5qgI3SlUYe<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AukB3nbqc7\">pic.twitter.com\/AukB3nbqc7<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Sean Davis (@seanmdav) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/seanmdav\/status\/2075342735356084701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2>\u2018His Constituents Deserve Answers\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>On July 2, McConnell\u2019s staff said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wlky.com\/article\/elaine-chao-mitch-mcconnell-health-statement\/71858467\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a> the former Senate majority leader appreciated the outpouring of support \u201che\u2019s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital.\u201d At that point, his staff said McConnell was improving, and that he was working closely with his office \u201con Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of Session.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s right. The Senate is on vacation while critical bills like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/video\/6400748503112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SAVE America Act<\/a> collect dust. <\/p>\n<p>But McConnell\u2019s absence completely out of the public eye is strange \u2014 and concerning. It has created a stir. Lots of speculation, plenty of conspiracy theories. <\/p>\n<p>His last Senate vote was June 11, three days before he reportedly suffered a loss of consciousness and was rushed to the hospital. A couple of weeks prior to the sketchy incident, McConnell was photographed getting around the Capitol in a wheelchair. <\/p>\n<p>The last time he ostensibly weighed in on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mitchmcconnell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SenMcConnell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">X accounts<\/a> was on June 12, two days before the \u201cincident.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s not well. That\u2019s been clear for some time. But is McConnell dead?<\/p>\n<p>Some lawmakers are worried.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., on Thursday told <em>Good Morning America<\/em> that he doesn\u2019t know whether McConnell is dead or alive. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have not heard from him,\u00a0and I think it\u2019s a question that\u00a0Republicans should be asking because\u00a0he does represent the state of Kentucky,\u201d Stutzman said. \u201cHis constituents deserve\u00a0answers where he is at.\u201d <\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>Conservative \u201cinfluencer\u201d and Trump ally Laura Loomer insists McConnell is \u201cofficially brain dead,\u201d per a \u201chigh level source close to the White House.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2>\u2018He\u2019s Not Brain Dead\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>But the reports of McConnell\u2019s death have been greatly exaggerated, according to some who know the senator, and a few who don\u2019t. CNN <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/09\/media\/cnn-falls-for-fake-gop-lawmaker-who-claimed-mitch-mcconnell-won-staring-contest-from-hospital\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a> that a Rep. Jack Kimble of California\u2019s 54th District confirmed McConnell\u2019s aliveness. Unfortunately for CNN neither Jack Kimble nor the fictitious 54th exist. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky,\u201d the political parody account posted on X. \u201cHe\u2019s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 45 minutes. He\u2019s so sharp. Just like always he let me do all of the talking. He\u2019s a great listener. After that we prayed silently for awhile and had a staring contest. Just like always, he beat me.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>Actual lawmakers \u2014 Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, Wyo., said they have spoken with McConnell earlier this week, each chatting with the senator about the issues of the day. At least their <a href=\"https:\/\/thehill.com\/homenews\/senate\/5957438-mcconnell-thune-barrasso-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">spokespeople said<\/a> they said that. <\/p>\n<p>NewsNation political campaign reporter Jackie Koppell late Thursday reported that a \u201csource familiar with the McConnell health situation\u201d told her that the senator is alive. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s not brain dead. He\u2019s in rehab and the hospital. With his condition, he needs time to physically recover. But mentally he\u2019s fine. The doctors want to make sure he\u2019s okay,\u201d the source said, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Jackie_Koppell\/status\/2075306935830630672\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to<\/a> Koppell. If the source is California Jack Kimble, we\u2019re back to square one, of course. <\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<div lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<p>NEW on MCCONNELL&#8217;s health: <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s alive. He&#8217;s not brain dead. He&#8217;s in rehab and the hospital. With his condition, he needs time to physically recover. But mentally he&#8217;s fine. The doctors want to make sure he&#8217;s okay.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Unlikely McConnell is back at the Capitol next week although\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u2014 Jackie (@Jackie_Koppell) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Jackie_Koppell\/status\/2075306935830630672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2>\u2018McConnell has an Obligation to Resign\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>The problem is, McConnell\u2019s flunkies refuse to say what\u2019s ailing the old man this time, what his prognosis is, when or if he is expected to return to the Senate. They have provided no photos, no video, no proof of life. And a whole lot of speculation has filled the uncertainty gap \u2014 more so because the senator\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/what-last-photo-mitch-mcconnell-seen-public-reveals-12177727\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most recent appearances<\/a> at the Capitol involved aides helping walk. <\/p>\n<p>The octogenarian lawmaker set to retire when his current term ends in January, has dealt with several health incidents over the past few years, some that have sidelined him for extended periods of time. <\/p>\n<p>McConnell\u2019s disappearance presents a bigger problem for the Senate and his constituents. <\/p>\n<p>As Davis points out, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rules.senate.gov\/imo\/media\/doc\/CDOC-113sdoc18.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Standing Rules of the Senate <\/a>state, \u201cNo Senator shall absent himself from the service of the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather than communicating through secret phone calls or anonymous sources, McConnell has an obligation to disclose to the Senate the reason(s) for his extended absence and to request permission of the Senate to grant him the privilege of continued absence,\u201d Davis wrote Thursday on X. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout that disclosure and request, and without explicit Senate approval for his extended absence (which I am sure the Senate would grant), McConnell has an obligation to resign. But he is required to make the request under the Standing Rules of the Senate,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are the rules, and it\u2019s long past time for senators to actually follow them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McConnell\u2019s mysterious time away seems to be complicating Senate business. <\/p>\n<p>The Senate is on yet another recess until Monday, and the \u201cdeliberative\u201d body is running out of time to do much of anything before the traditional long summer recess \u2014 more than a month beginning the second week of August. Then, with campaigning season upon us, the road to a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >timely budget appears paved<\/a> with selfish intentions. <\/p>\n<p>McConnell is chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. He\u2019s the on the powerful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/subcommittees\/defense\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Appropriations Committee<\/a>. As The Washington Post reported, McConnell\u2019s absence forced the subcommittee\u2019s leadership to cancel a critical hearing on defense spending.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMcConnell\u2019s continued absence could make it harder for the Appropriations Committee to pass budget bills, by eliminating Republicans\u2019 one-seat majority on the panel,\u201d the outlet reported.\u00a0 \u201cWithout McConnell, the Appropriations Committee is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats, and tied votes tend to sink legislation in committees.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Matt Kittle is a senior elections correspondent for The Federalist. An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-knew-100-percent-he-was-fighting-for-the-little-guy-former-top-trump-economic-adviser\/\" title=\"... Knew \u2018100 Percent... He Was \u2018Fighting for the Little Guy...: Former Top ... Economic Adviser\">award-winning investigative reporter<\/a> and 30-year veteran of print, broadcast, and online journalism, Kittle previously served as the executive director of Empower Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. McConnell&#8217;s health mystery sparks Senate rules debate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":656,"featured_media":2627827,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-12.19.01-AM-1024x575.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[16587,34365,5894,7620],"class_list":["post-2627826","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-absence","tag-mitch-mcconnell","tag-politics","tag-retirement"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-12.19.01-AM-1024x575.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/656"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2627826"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627826\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2627830,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627826\/revisions\/2627830"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2627827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2627826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2627826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2627826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}