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Elaine Chao, wife of Mitch McConnell, speaks out about trip to China days after senator's hospitalization

WHAS11 · back to the audit
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Elaine Chao, wife of Mitch McConnell, is speaking out about her trip to China three days after the Kentucky U.S. senator's hospitalization.

In a statement to WHAS11 on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the former U.S. Transportation Secretary said McConnell’s condition “did not warrant an immediate return to the U.S.”

"The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family's philanthropic endeavors," Chao's spokesperson said. "During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the U.S. ambassador.”

According to a news release from China’s U.S. Embassy, Chao also met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on June 17 to discuss “further efforts to strengthen China-U.S. relations.”

McConnell was hospitalized on June 14. And 24 days later, his office has released few details about his condition or what caused his hospitalization.

The same morning McConnell was hospitalized, new 911 audio revealed first responders went to his home in Washington D.C. where a person was found “unconscious” after suffering “cardiac arrest.”

In an update Tuesday, multiple prominent Republicans said they spoke to McConnell about Iran, Ukraine and rape allegations against a Democratic candidate in Maine's U.S. Senate race.

"Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital," a spokesperson for McConnell reiterated. "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, who survived polio in his childhood, has experienced numerous public health incidents over the last few years, including multiple falls and freezes.

In February, he was hospitalized for eight days due to "flu-like symptoms."

McConnell is Kentucky’s longest-serving U.S. Senator. In 2025, McConnell announced he would leave Congress after his seventh term in office ends in January 2027.