Elaine Chao has addressed questions about why she remained in China after her husband, Senator Mitch McConnell, was admitted to hospital last month.
McConnell was hospitalized on June 14, and few details have been released publicly about his condition. Reports said Chao had departed for China two days earlier, on June 12, prompting speculation over why she did not immediately return to the US.
The controversy has intensified because McConnell, 84, has faced recurring health concerns in recent years, while his office has offered only limited public updates during this hospitalization. A statement from his office said he was “receiving excellent care,” and later said he “continues to improve” as he recovers in hospital.
A spokesperson for Chao later provided an explanation in a statement to the Daily Beast.
“The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family’s philanthropic endeavors,” the statement read.
“During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the US ambassador. The Senator’s health did not warrant an immediate return to the US.”
According to People, Chao met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in Beijing three days after McConnell was admitted to hospital. Chao previously served as secretary of labor under George W. Bush and later became Donald Trump’s first Transportation Secretary.
Her representatives also said she has since returned to the United States, though they did not say exactly when she came back. They likewise declined to provide an update on McConnell’s present condition.
McConnell’s spokesperson did, however, offer a brief update to the Independent.
“Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital.
“The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
Several Republican figures have publicly sent well wishes to the longtime Kentucky senator.
Scott Jennings, a CNN commentator, said on X that he had spoken with McConnell and that the senator was “still recovering in the hospital.”
We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible,” he later penned.
McConnell’s hospitalization comes after several earlier health scares. He was hospitalized in March 2023 after a fall at a Washington hotel, and in 2024 he was helped from a Capitol hallway after another stumble. Those episodes revived questions about the long-serving senator’s physical condition, even as he continued to work in the Senate.
McConnell’s office has not said when he may next appear in public.