CNN is distancing itself from Scott Jennings’ claim that he spoke with Senator Mitch McConnell for nearly 20 minutes last week.
On July 7, Jennings said that he spoke with McConnell by phone for nearly 20 minutes.
Jennings wrote on X: “I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible.”
I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a…
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) July 7, 2026
Jennings’ statement was met with criticism and mockery on social media. Especially after other lawmakers, including Republican Sen. John Thune, claimed they spoke to Sen. McConnell for 20 minutes about the same subjects.
In a statement to the Daily Beast, a CNN spokesperson said, “As a CNN Political Commentator, Scott Jennings is not a full-time employee or journalist for the network. His account of a personal conversation with Senator McConnell reflects his experience and is not CNN reporting.”
Social media users wondered why CNN didn’t verify Jennings’ phone call with McConell before he repeated his claims on the air.
One Trump supporter wrote on X.com: “CNN is now essentially saying it isn’t responsible for what one of its own on-air political commentators says? If that’s the case, why was Jennings presented on air without any apparent disclaimer that his claims had not been independently verified?”
McConnell, 84, hasn’t been seen on Capitol Hill since he reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest at his Washington, D.C. home on June 14.
On Friday, an exclusive video, obtained and verified by CNN, showed emergency responders lifting McConnell into an ambulance. He was under a sheet and motionless on the stretcher.
New video shows Mitch McConnell being loaded into ambulance after apparent cardiac arrest https://t.co/8ZcxiecxON pic.twitter.com/uO22gLZeuh
— New York Post (@nypost) July 10, 2026
911 dispatch audio confirmed medics responded to an “unconscious” person in “cardiac arrest” at McConnell’s Capitol Hill address.
A registered nurse on X noted the absence of emergency equipment, such as oxygen, in the video.
On July 6, right-wing activist Laura Loomer claimed a “high-level” White House source told her that McConnell was “brain dead” and on life support.