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GOP Senator Awkwardly Walks Back Conspiracy Theory About Mitch McConnell’s Hospital Photo
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After repeating a conspiracy theory about Sen. Mitch McConnell on Monday amid speculation about the Kentucky Republican’s health following his second hospitalization this year, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is now walking back his remarks.
Johnson alleged, without evidence, that a photo McConnell posted Sunday night from his hospital stay was actually an older photo. In the photo, the Kentucky senator appeared sitting upright in a hospital bed alongside his wife, Elaine Chao.
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McConnell held a newspaper in his right hand, which, according to Washington Post media reporter Scott Nover, is consistent with The Washington Post’s Sunday sports page.
Appearing on NewsNation’s “Morning In America” on Tuesday, host Markie Martin asked Johnson what made him utter the unsubstantiated claim.
“I’m curious if you’ve gotten any more clarity on that, congressman,” Martin added.
Johnson replied, “Well, the TV host was saying it was AI, and I just said, ‘I’d heard that maybe it wasn’t the most recent photo.’”
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Johnson was referring to his appearance Monday on conservative media channel “Real America’s Voice,” where he told host Eric Bolling of McConnell’s photo, “I’ve just heard from some other sources that was an older photo. So I really don’t know. I haven’t talked to Mitch.”
He did not identify his alleged sources at the time of the interview. Johnson made the remark after Bolling said he didn’t believe the photo was accurate.
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Speaking with Martin on Tuesday, Johnson retracted his statement, saying he had “no idea” if the image was real.
“Just discount all that,” he said of his previous statement. “From my standpoint, I wish Leader McConnell well. I hope he recovers. I hope he returns to the Senate and can help support President Trump’s agenda.”
On Sunday, McConnell’s office posted the photo alongside a lengthy explanation about his absence from the public eye. In the post, McConnell shared that he was hospitalized after suffering a fall that left him “briefly unconscious.”
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Noting that he’s been receiving “excellent care over the past several weeks,” he added that he also battled a mild case of pneumonia.
McConnell’s office initially released a statement June 14 announcing that he was admitted to the hospital but did not provide any further details.