U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a Senate Agriculture business meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 6, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) had few answers when pressed on Thursday by independent journalist Nicholas Ballasy about the condition of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
McConnell has been absent from the public for months, after being hospitalized following cardiac arrest. He has put out two pictures of himself recovering, but details remain scarce.
"Do you want to see Senator McConnell put out a video of some sort?" said Ballasy, to which Thune did not answer.
Ballasy later asked him the same thing, and he responded, "That's a decision between him and his staff."
"Have you visited him in the hospital?" asked Ballasy, which didn't get a response.
Thune later acknowledged to the press gaggle, "At this point I don't think we have 50 votes for reconciliation" with McConnell still out of commission, to say nothing of legislation requiring 60 votes like President Donald Trump's SAVE America Act.
"Senator, have you been able to visit McConnell in the hospital?" asked Ballasy again.
"I have not, no," said Thune.
"Do you think he's going to come back?" asked Ballasy, as Thune stepped into an elevator and the door closed. "Are you going to give him an ultimatum to come back to vote, since you have a slim majority?"
Shortly after this exchange, McConnell put out a statement that he has been released from rehabilitation to recover at home. This update did not include a video, or a time frame in which he expects to return to Congress to vote.