Questions swirl over top US Republican McConnell's hospital stay - here's what we know

Concerns are growing about the health of US Senator Mitch McConnell, a top Republican lawmaker who has been in hospital for over three weeks.

McConnell, 84, was admitted for treatment on 14 June, according to his staff. His aides have not given any details about the reason for his hospital stay, or what kind of treatment he is receiving.

His team said on 2 July he was "receiving excellent care" and "continues to improve".

On Tuesday, several Republicans said they had spoken by phone to McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in US history. Their comments came after a Trump ally - influencer Laura Loomer - claimed on X the Kentucky senator was in a "vegetative state".

Several US media outlets have reported that 911 emergency calls were made from McConnell's home seeking help for an "unconscious" person who was suffering from "cardiac arrest".

The calls also indicated that CPR was being performed on the patient. McConnell, who has served in the Senate for more than 40 years, was not explicitly named in the recording.

On Tuesday, Loomer, a far-right activist, posted that McConnell "is brain dead and hooked up to machines", and alleged a "cover-up".

She also criticised his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, for visiting China during McConnell's hospital stay.

The Chinese government has confirmed Chao met Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng in Beijing on 17 June, three days after McConnell was admitted to the hospital.

A spokesperson for Chao told the BBC on Tuesday evening that McConnell's health "did not warrant an immediate return", though she has since returned to the US.

"The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family's philanthropic endeavors," the spokesperson said in a statement. "During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the US ambassador."

In an apparent effort to push back against Loomer's claims, several Republican colleagues released statements on Tuesday saying they had spoken by phone with the former Senate leader.

A spokesman for Senate Leader John Thune said the two had held "a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics including national security".