Sen. Mitch McConnell, 84, calls GOP allies from hospital to dispel internet chatter he's 'brain dead'

Sen. Mitch McConnell, 84, calls GOP allies from hospital to dispel internet chatter he's 'brain dead'.

WASHINGTON -- Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell has been making phone calls from his hospital bed to Republican allies to dispel internet rumors that he's "brain dead" after 911 dispatch calls revealed the 84-year-old was rushed off "unconscious" from his DC home in an ambulance last month.

The longest-serving Senate leader of either party reached out to his successor, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) as well as ex-adviser and current CNN contributor Scott Jennings following X posts from right-wing firebrand Laura Loomer about an alleged "cover up" of McConnell's failing health.

"Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he's receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital," a spokesperson for his office said in a statement. "The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session."

McConnell's Senate colleagues issued statements that the retiring Republican was alert -- and chatty.

"Senator Barrasso and Senator McConnell had a lengthy conversation early this afternoon. Their phone call lasted roughly 20 minutes," a spokesperson for the Republican conference chairman also said. "Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate."

But not all of McConnell's Republican colleagues have been briefed. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said Tuesday: "Many of us aren't speaking about Mitch McConnell's condition because we know nothing about his condition."

Right-wing firebrand Laura Loomer also prompted frenzied speculation after posting Monday on X: "High level source close to the White House tells me 'Mitch McConnell is officially brain dead. He's not coming back.'"

On Tuesday, Loomer suggested that McConnell's staff was keeping a lid on official communications "because the Senators want to F--k Trump and not pass the Save America Act," the president's signature voter ID bill.

"Mitch McConnell is brain dead and hooked up to machines!!! He is 84 years old and was found unconscious and needed to be resuscitated," she added.

Dispatchers on the audio discussed that there was "CPR in progress" for a "cardiac arrest" at McConnell's residence and referenced medical personnel in an ALS, or Advanced Life Support, ambulance had been sent to the home.