Ron Johnson backs off McConnell photo skepticism: 'Discount all that'

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Monday walked back comments suggesting a recently released hospital photo of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) may have been outdated.

In an interview with Real America's Voice on Monday, Johnson said he had "heard from some other sources" that the photo released by McConnell's office over the weekend was "an older photo," though he acknowledged that he did not know if the claim was true.

Hours later, Johnson retracted his comments, writing on social media, "Beware of clickbait -- watch the full clip. Most importantly, I hope @SenMcConnell makes a full recovery and returns to the Senate."

Johnson further clarified his comments, saying he originally heard it from a television host that suggested the photo was generated using artificial intelligence.

"I have no idea. Just discount all that," Johnson told NewsNation in an interview. He wished the senator a speedy recovery so he could return to Congress and help push forward President Trump's agenda.

McConnell's office released a photo of him in the hospital on Sunday alongside a statement after the 84-year-old senator was hospitalized on June 14. McConnell said he went to the hospital after suffering from a fall that left him "briefly unconscious" and a "mild case of pneumonia."

McConnell, who is retiring, was pictured on a hospital bed with his wife, former Labor and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, where he held a Sunday copy of The Washington Post's sports section.

Questions about his health have swirled across political circles, including from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), who released a public inquiry seeking transparency and an update on McConnell's health.