Wisconsin
Latest Coverage
See all articles
Mitch McConnell update: Hospital photo with Elaine Chao ‘older,’ Sen. Ron Johnson claims fueling AI row
McConnell was hospitalized on June 12 and has been absent from public view, including at key Senate votes, since then. MAGA social media has been brimming with speculation about the Senator's health, led by prominent MAGA voice Laura Loomer. Despite the Senator's office maintaining that he is recovering after the June 12 hospitalization, Loomer claimed that he was "brain dead" and his office was allegedly hiding it. She and several other MAGA commentators demanded proof of life.
That is exactly what the July 12 photo released by his office aimed to provide. It showed the 84-year-old Republican and his wife, former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, at the hospital. McConnell and his wife were seen smiling in the photo with the Senator holding the sports page of the Washington Post's July 12 edition. The WaPo, especially, was touted as a convincing piece of evidence that the photo was taken on July 12 itself.
Senator Ron Johnson fueled the claims that the photo is AI-generated by claiming that a source told him that the photo is older and was not taken on July 12, as the office of Mitch McConnell suggested. Sen. Johnson made the comments appearing on Real America's Voice's show 'Boiling!'
"Well, I just heard from some other source that was an older photo. So I really don't know," Sen. Ron Johnson said. "I haven't talked to Mitch. "
"I certainly wish he and his family well. I hope he can recover," he continued. "Listen, it's sad to watch people age, no matter who that person is, you know, I've served with Mitch McConnell for 16 years, okay, obviously have disagreed with him on a host of things. But I also know he loves this country. He loves the Senate. He reveres the Senate.
"So again, I do try and put the best construction on things. I try and look for the best in people. Mitch McConnell also loves this country. So I wish him well. I hope he recovers. I hope he can come back and contribute and vote with the President's agenda."
“The remainder of his hospital stay focused on physical therapy and strategies to reduce his risk of future falls,” the statement added.