Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) office released another photo of the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican with his wife, Elaine Chao, along with a statement explaining his absence from the Fancy Farm political picnic.

McConnell has not appeared publicly since his June 14 hospitalization and has said he is undergoing "intense physical therapy" on doctor's orders.

His office also issued a statement saying he regretted missing the event and noting his long history of attending the gathering.

"So I hate that I’ll miss the fun this year, but I’m sending my best wishes to the St. Jerome [Catholic Church] community for a successful picnic," the statement read.

The photo and statement drew widespread skepticism from Democratic strategists and social media users, who questioned McConnell's health and fitness.

Critics, including Ally Sammarco, said the image showed Chao "holding him up," while other users questioned whether the statement actually confirmed that McConnell was alive and capable of performing Senate duties.

The release marked the second similar photo published in two weeks, but both have failed to ease public concern about McConnell's condition and his extended absence from Capitol Hill. With McConnell still out of public view, the photos have become a proxy for broader questions about how much information lawmakers and their offices provide when a senior senator is recovering from a serious health episode, especially when that senator remains a central figure in the chamber's Republican leadership.

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