Elaine Chao travels to China days after Mitch McConnell receives CPR
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Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized after a heart attack and received CPR, while his wife Elaine Chao visited Beijing and met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.
Senator Mitch McConnell was hospitalized on June 14 after suffering a heart attack that required CPR, according to an emergency dispatch audio released by a journalist. The Republican leader’s office confirmed his admission but declined to provide details on his condition or who is overseeing his duties.
Three days after the incident, Elaine Chao, the senator’s wife and former transportation secretary, traveled to Beijing where she met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. The visit has drawn attention because Chao holds no official diplomatic role.
A statement from McConnell’s office said the senator “appreciates the outpouring of support” and “continues to improve, working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”
Dr. Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, cautioned that recovery after CPR can be lengthy, especially for elderly patients with underlying conditions. “If it does work and we can restart their heart … that begins a long road to recovery, even for the healthiest of patients,” he told CNN.
McConnell’s health has been a recurring concern; he has previously been hospitalized for flu-like symptoms, falls, and a concussion. Democratic candidate Charles Booker, who is running to succeed McConnell, questioned whether the senator’s team is fully disclosing his condition, saying Kentuckians and Americans deserve accurate information.