this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2026
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WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitch McConnell on Sunday revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking the silence about his condition after weeks of mounting speculation about the Kentucky Republican's health.

McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he was "briefly unconscious" around the time he was first taken to the hospital and has undergone a battery of tests to try and determine what led to his fall. He said he was also treated for mild pneumonia and has been moved to a rehabilitation facility.

"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 said, adding that he is now "regaining my strength."

McConnell's statement came on the heels of the unexpected death of his fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. McConnell said he cannot return to the Senate "quite yet."

Coupled with Graham's passing, that will temporarily whittle the GOP majority in that chamber down by two, to 51-47, as Republicans try to increase military funding, advance President Donald Trump's agenda and confirm Trump's nominees.

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[–] ShredderFeeder@shredderfood.net 71 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"Said in a statement" means someone else wrote and delivered it.

Still waiting on proof of life... Bashear needs to go ahead and declare the seat abandoned and schedule the special election.

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (2 children)

It's Beshear*, the sheriffs of each county have to be notified 63 days before the election, McConnell's seat is already being voted on this November (requiring essentially parallel campaigns), and most importantly, Beshear can only call a special election if the seat is certified vacant – i.e., in this case, if McConnell is declared legally dead or e.g. provably in a severe disabling condition. Notably, a vacancy for senator, governor, etc. aren't formally defined, but we can turn to candidacies:

If a vacancy occurs in the nomination of an unopposed candidate or in a nomination made by the primary [...] because of death or severe disabling condition which arose after the nomination, the governing authority of the party may provide for filling the vacancy, but only following certification to the governing authority, by the Secretary of State [edit: notably, the incumbent SoS is a Republican], that a vacancy exists for a reason specified in this subsection. When such a nomination has been made, the certificate of nomination shall be signed by the chair and secretary of the governing authority of the party making it, and shall be filed in the same manner as certificates of nomination at a primary.

So probably a very similar process for senator: you'd need to actually certify that McConnell is dead or in such a severe, debilitating condition (not just temporary) that he cannot act as a senator.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

Can't he just walk into the hospital take a look at the guy and make a decision

And of course that would take longer than we've got...

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 26 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Ambulance personnel were giving him CPR. You dont get CPR for a fall. So this is clearly lies. Mitch is dead.

[–] KneeTitts@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

if hes alive, why did they have to make a fake photo?

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago

Or they stuffed his corpse and propped it on a chair. Taxidermy does take a few weeks to get done.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 8 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

In the video of Mitch being loaded into the ambulance he is not receiving CPR. I have read reports that calls to dispatch said he was under cardiac arrest, but I gotta say, the video of him being loaded into the ambulance doesn’t seem all that hurried as I would expect from a cardiac event.

It’s all definitely weird as hell. My wife showed me there is some indication that the released photo of him was AI manipulated earlier today, which reminds me I gotta vet that because she saw it on instagram which is full of bullshit.

[–] BorgDrone@feddit.nl 5 points 21 hours ago

There’s also no need hurry if he’a already dead.

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 39 points 1 day ago

Unless he shows up in person to do his job, we can assume that every thing posted is just a bad fake created by his staff.

[–] azimir@lemmy.ml 36 points 1 day ago

Until the Governor gets to visit in person and corroborate that McConnell can still serve, it's all yet more lies by the Republicans.

This is a foundational reason we need to punish lying by politicians across the board. Even the basics of daily operations, identity, and even the existence of the politicians themselves becomes suspect.

[–] Burninator05@lemmy.world 27 points 1 day ago (3 children)

A simple fall that does not cause other issues shouldn't result in a 6 week hospitalization. Even at his age if he was otherwise ok he would have already been discharged.

[–] yenahmik@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

My grandma fell and she was never independent again. Granted she lived alone and was on the ground for 8+ hours before someone found her and she was diabetic so she was in a near coma from low blood sugar. I could believe it in the right circumstances.

Note: all we know is she fell probably first thing in the morning, leaving the bathroom. She left her life alert dongle on the bedside table, so that was super helpful. It wasn't until that evening, when no one could get a hold of her, that a relative went by and found her. She spent 3+ weeks in the hospital and several more weeks in a rehab facility. APS would not release her until she had assisted living lined up.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

Three more weeks before his corpse begins to smell too strong for them to hide

[–] iamthetot@piefed.ca 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Falls can be devastating for 84 year old people.

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

sure. but he was receiving CPR while being loaded in ambulance.

[–] iamthetot@piefed.ca 2 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Lack of breathing will more often than not cause a fall, I think.

[–] jontree255@lemmy.world 24 points 1 day ago
[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago

My disappointment is immeasurable.

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I wish they would've had Japan's #1 heart surgeon work on him.

[–] CaliforniaSober@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

STEADY HANDS

He didn’t say anything. Someone put out a statement and the media takes these proven liars as truth

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They run ALS and perform CPR for a fall?

[–] dogslayeggs@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

I mean, possibly? A fall from tripping over your coffee table leg? Probably not. A fall from the roof of you house? Probably. A fall down a flight of stairs for an 84 year old? Probably.

[–] Jhex@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

So considering his health is in no danger whatsoever (if you believe the "statement"), why hasn't he shown up for work, or communicated with anyone in the last month?

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago
[–] untorquer@quokk.au 4 points 22 hours ago

I feel like the headline was written weeks ago and they just left it after the disappointing following up in the body.

[–] switcheroo@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

You should not be allowed in Office. You are too fucking old, you disgrace of a tortoise! Fucking GO AWAY ALREADY!

[–] Sgt_choke_n_stroke@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago

Npr is getting worse every year reporting trash like this.

[–] slickgoat@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago

"Statement".

[–] massive_bereavement@fedia.io 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Goddammit modern medicine just learn when not to mess with nature's course.

[–] frongt@lemmy.zip -1 points 1 day ago

If enough people petition can we get a DNR for him? That should be a thing.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 1 day ago

oh no. why. why. This is horrible.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Damnit... I was so ready for the is/was on him.