Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene leveled a sharp accusation against former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday, alleging on social media that the wife of Sen. Mitch McConnell was “likely a Chinese spy” while pointing to her recent trip to China during the Kentucky Republican’s ongoing hospitalization.
McConnell, 84, was reportedly found unconscious at his home on June 14 following a potential cardiac arrest. He has remained hospitalized since then, though his aides have not publicly explained the reason for his continued stay.
The senator’s hospitalization came two days after Chao departed for China on what her office described as a previously scheduled visit.
In a statement released Tuesday, a spokesperson for Chao said the former Cabinet secretary had traveled to China to support her family’s philanthropic work.
“The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family’s philanthropic endeavors,” the spokesperson said.
According to the statement, Chao met with several individuals during the trip, including the U.S. ambassador. The spokesperson also said McConnell’s medical condition “did not warrant an immediate return to the US.”
The statement further confirmed that Chao has since returned to the United States but did not indicate whether she has been in contact with her husband following her return.
Greene seized on the timing of Chao’s trip in a post on X, making allegations about the former Cabinet official without providing evidence.
“Elaine Chao, who is likely a Chinese spy married to Mitch McConnell, has been in China almost the entire time the nearly dead Senator has been in the hospital. And she met with China’s VP,” Greene wrote.
“Now that she’s back, they are running a PR campaign. Sure totally normal,” Greene added.
Chao was born in Taiwan to Chinese parents and has held several high-profile positions in the U.S. government.
She served as Transportation secretary under former President George W. Bush and later served as Labor secretary during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Following the end of his first administration, Trump repeatedly criticized Chao publicly, referring to her as “Coco Chow.”
Meanwhile, McConnell’s condition remains the subject of public attention as few details have been released regarding his hospitalization.
On Tuesday, CNN commentator Scott Jennings, who has long been a friend of the senator, said McConnell personally called him earlier that morning.
According to Jennings, the two spoke for nearly 20 minutes during the phone conversation.
No additional information about McConnell’s health was provided in connection with that call.
The senator, who previously served as Senate majority leader, has already announced that he will not seek reelection this year, bringing an end to a lengthy Senate career.
Greene’s social media comments came as questions continue to surround McConnell’s hospitalization and Chao’s travel schedule. Chao’s office has maintained that her visit to China had been planned well in advance and said the senator’s health at the time did not require her immediate return to the United States.
Her spokesperson also confirmed that she met with several people during the trip, including the U.S. ambassador, while declining to address whether she had communicated with McConnell after returning home.
Greene’s allegations were made in a social media post and were not supported with evidence in the article. Neither Chao’s office nor McConnell’s aides responded to Greene’s accusations in the information provided.
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