A second proof-of-life photo intended to quell conspiracy theories about Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health has had the opposite effect. The photo of Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao that the senator’s office claims was taken on Sunday—though there is no metadata on the photo to confirm this is true. Mitch McConnell's wife, Elaine Lan Chao seen leaving the rehabilitation center where McConnell is recovering on July 15, 2026, and a photo released of Chao and McConnell on July 26 by his Senate office. Office Of Mitch McConnell/Backgrid/XChao’s behavior in the weeks McConnell has been out of the public eye has also raised eyebrows across Washington. We do not know who took Mitch McConnell’s pair of proof-of-life photos, including the first, above, which was released on July 12.