A newly released photo of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) raised new questions about his health and continued absence.
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The 84-year-old senator has not been seen in public since his June 14 hospitalization, and his office released another photo of the Kentucky Republican and his wife, Elaine Chao, along with a statement claiming that he is undergoing “intense physical therapy” on a doctor’s orders and would miss the picnic in the village of Fancy Farm that kicks off the fall political season in his home state.
“There’s no place I’d rather be on the first Saturday in August than with the good people of western Kentucky, feasting on pork and mutton,” the statement read. “When I first attended forty-two years ago, Fancy Farm was a pretty lonely place to be a Republican. But, my, how times have changed. Today, western Kentucky is a conservative Republican sea of red.”
“So I hate that I’ll miss the fun this year, but I’m sending my best wishes to the St. Jerome [Catholic Church] community for a successful picnic,” the statement added.
The photo was issued two weeks after another similar image of the elderly senator and his wife that failed to put to rest rumors about McConnell’s health and fitness.
“The ominous photos of her holding him up are really convincing,” said Democratic strategist Ally Sammarco.
“Elaine Chao STUNS in new McConnell proof of life photo,” joked The Bulwark’s Brendan Hartnett.
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“They’re gonna continue this charade to run out the clock, and Dems are just gonna sit on their hands and let them do it,” sighed writer Ron Merz. “So tired of the bringing a plastic spoon to a gunfight.”
“Time to appoint a living Senator,” grumbled former political candidate Robert Jon Anderson.
“This is not remotely good enough,” seethed popular X user PattiO. “We need a video with Mitch McConnell discussing domestic and foreign policy in real time like he’s supposedly doing with his staff. Stop treating the American people like worthless peasants.”
“Who signed their name to that statement? Nobody? Oh,” wondered widely followed X user Schrödinger’s Litter Box. “So nobody has confirmed he is still alive.”
“We are doing this again?” asked Democratic strategist Adam Parkhomenko.
“It’s an impressive achievement when your press team releases a photo to prove you’re still breathing, and the public’s immediate consensus is that the pixels were rendered by Midjourney,” marveled widely followed Bluesky user Luca Migo.
“It IS notable that for the proof of life instead of ‘today’s paper’ they have substituted ‘a reported desire to feast on mutton,'” laughed writer and editor Amanda Katz. “If my family ever tells you I’m doing just great and craving mutton as usual, just can’t come to the phone right now, you have my permission to call the police.”
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