Sen. Rand Paul says Mitch McConnell is ‘doing better’ in the hospital

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said Monday that Kentucky U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell "is doing better" after he was hospitalized over the weekend.

McConnell was admitted to a hospital Sunday morning. A spokesperson for McConnell said "He is receiving excellent care."

It's unknown why he was hospitalized.

"I've seen the news reports and we wish him well and hope for a speedy recovery," Paul said. "I've only kind of heard through the grapevine. I haven't talked to him directly. But I've heard that he is doing better today. We're hoping he gets out of the hospital soon."

A spokesperson for McConnell said in an update Monday that he is "fully engaged with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters and is very appreciative of the outstanding care he is receiving."

Earlier this year, McConnell was hospitalized for eight days after experiencing "flu-like symptoms."

McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, announced last February he wouldn't seek reelection this year and instead retire when his current term ends in January 2027.

The senator has dealt with a series of medical episodes in recent years, including injuries sustained from falls and times when his face briefly froze while he was speaking.

Paul was in Louisville Monday to speak with leadership at UPS Airlines about the cost of oil and jet fuel following an agreement to end the war in Iran.

"I think it will take a while for gas prices to come down, I think the sooner the war ends the better," Paul said. "It takes a while to get confidence - the insurers that insure the boats that go the strait they need to feel confident that the boats are going to be going through without attack and so I think that is going to take a while."