McConnell out of hospital but not yet cleared to return to work, doctors sayThe 84-year-old Republican senator has been away from work for weeks amid ongoing speculation about his health.3 hrs agoUS & Canada

US Senator Mitch McConnell is out of hospital but still not “medically cleared” to return to work in the Senate, his doctors have said.

It is the second statement from the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican since his admission to hospital in mid-June after a fall and “a mild case of pneumonia”.

The senator has been away from work for weeks amid ongoing speculation about his health.

“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders,” he said in a statement shared by his office on Monday.

Alongside the statement, his office also released a photo they say was taken on 26 July. McConnell is seen smiling in the photo alongside his wife former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

The statement says that McConnell will not be able to attend an upcoming celebration in western Kentucky.

His office also released a note from the Office of the Attending Physician (OAP), which said doctors visit the senator every day to discuss “all aspects of his rehabilitation care”.

“Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls,” the OAP statement reads.

“His bout with childhood polio continues to be a significant factor in his mobility. He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office.”

Since 14 June, there has been limited communication and detail from McConnell and his office about his condition, leading to wild speculation about his absence in Washington and on social media.

McConnell, who holds the title of the longest-serving Senate party leader in US history, has faced a number of health challenges in recent years.

In 2024, he was injured after tripping outside a Senate lunch event, and earlier this year he was admitted to hospital for the flu.

He has said he will retire at the end of his term in the Senate.