CNN commentator Scott Jennings said Tuesday that he spoke directly with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., amid growing speculation online about the longtime lawmaker’s health.
Jennings, a Kentucky native and former longtime advisor to McConnell, shared an update on X after what he described as a nearly 20-minute conversation with the senior senator from Kentucky. His post appeared aimed at pushing back against conspiracy theories circulating on social media claiming McConnell was brain-dead and would not be returning to the Senate.
According to Jennings, McConnell remains hospitalized but is continuing his recovery.
“I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky,” Jennings wrote on X. “He’s still recovering in the hospital.”
Jennings said the two covered a wide range of topics during their conversation, discussing several major issues currently making headlines as well as more personal subjects.
Among the topics they discussed were Iran, Ukraine, the unfolding situation in Maine, Jennings’ recent visit to the TR Presidential Library, and what he described as “a little bit of Senate history.”
The conversation, Jennings said, lasted just shy of 20 minutes.
Jennings also said he expressed his hope that McConnell would make a full recovery and return to his work in Washington.
“I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible,” Jennings wrote.
The update comes as online speculation about McConnell’s condition has continued to circulate, with some social media users spreading unfounded claims about the senator’s health. Jennings’ account of their conversation directly contradicted those rumors, describing McConnell as actively engaged in a discussion covering domestic and international issues.
Jennings has longstanding ties to McConnell, having served as one of his advisors for many years. His statement on Tuesday provided a firsthand account of the senator’s condition while emphasizing that McConnell remains focused on public affairs even as he recovers in the hospital.
According to Jennings, their discussion ranged from international conflicts to developments in Maine, along with reflections on Senate history and his own visit to the TR Presidential Library. The breadth of the conversation, he indicated, underscored McConnell’s continued interest in current events.
Jennings did not provide additional details about McConnell’s medical condition beyond stating that he is still recovering in the hospital. He also did not indicate when the senator is expected to be released or return to the Senate.
Instead, Jennings concluded his update by reiterating his support for his longtime friend and expressing optimism about McConnell’s recovery.
His post serves as a public response to the rumors circulating online while offering a firsthand account of a lengthy conversation with the Kentucky senator, whom Jennings said remains engaged in discussions about major national and international issues as he continues recovering in the hospital.
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