Sen. Mitch McConnell was hospitalized Sunday morning, with his office giving only a brief update about the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican’s condition.
Reuters reported that McConnell’s spokesperson, David Popp, confirmed the hospitalization but did not say why the senator was admitted. “Sen. McConnell was admitted to the hospital this morning,” Popp said. “He is receiving excellent care.”
The statement did not include a diagnosis, a hospital name, or a timeline for McConnell’s release. People reported that the hospitalization came about four months after McConnell was treated for “flu-like symptoms” during an earlier hospital stay.
McConnell’s Office Gave No Cause for the Hospitalization
Reuters reported that McConnell was hospitalized Sunday morning in Washington, D.C. Two neighbors told the outlet they saw him being loaded onto an ambulance stretcher outside his home around 9 a.m. ET.
McConnell’s office did not provide more detail about what led to the ambulance call. The confirmed information from his spokesperson is limited to the hospitalization and the statement that he is receiving care.
He Was Hospitalized Earlier This Year
People reported that McConnell was previously hospitalized in February after experiencing “flu-like symptoms.” His office said at the time that he had checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation “in an abundance of caution.”
McConnell was later discharged and worked from home on doctors’ advice. People reported that his office said he was grateful for the care he received, but it did not publicly release a more specific diagnosis from that February stay.
McConnell Has Had Several Public Health Episodes
McConnell’s health has drawn public attention in recent years. People noted that he had two widely discussed freezing episodes during public appearances in 2023, along with several falls and injuries over the past several years.
Those incidents included a 2019 shoulder fracture after a fall at his Louisville home, a concussion and rib fracture after a 2023 fall in Washington, D.C., and other reported falls. McConnell has used a wheelchair at times, including after some of those injuries.
He Plans to Leave the Senate in 2027
McConnell served as the top Senate Republican for nearly two decades before stepping down from leadership. Reuters reported that he has announced he will retire when his current Senate term ends in early 2027.
He remains in the Senate and currently chairs the Senate Rules Committee, according to Fox News. His office had not released another public update beyond Sunday’s short statement in the initial reports.