McConnell's wife, Elaine Chao, saw no need for 'immediate return' from China as former GOP leader hospitalized

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Fox News chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reports on Rep. Tom Kean Jr.’s, R-N.J., absence from Congress for weeks, missing more than 50 votes since March, on ‘Fox Report.’ Former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao went to China and stayed there, while her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was hospitalized. Though his condition remains a mystery as rumors swirl, a spokesperson for Chao told Fox News Digital that it was not grave enough for her to cancel the trip. "The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family's philanthropic endeavors," the spokesperson said. "During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the U.S. ambassador. The Senator's health did not warrant an immediate return to the U.S." MCCONNELL WAS FOUND 'UNCONSCIOUS' IN HOME LAST MONTH AS CONDITION REMAINS UNKNOWN Former Transporta