Mitch McConnell may be missing but his wife has once again sidestepped talking about the elephant in the room, opting instead to name-drop two of his Senate colleagues. Chao posted old tributes from McConnell's Senate colleaguess Susan Collins and Angus King - but nothing about McConnell himself. The letter McConnell signed. Chao was transport secretary under the first Trump administration when McConnell was leader of the Senate and one of the most powerful people in Washington. Chao also delivered a lengthy acceptance speech at a sold-out luncheon last week, where there was also no mention of McConnell.