The uncertainty comes just months before the November midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans are able to defend their congressional majority. McConnell’s absence has also raised questions about whether Republicans could lose a crucial vote as they seek to pass an emergency defense spending bill and a third budget reconciliation package before the end of 2026. With the GOP holding a narrow Senate majority, McConnell’s vote could prove crucial, as several Republican senators have previously broken with US President Donald Trump on major legislation. Although he publicly endorsed Trump’s reelection bid, reports have suggested the longtime senator was sharply critical of the president in private, allegedly calling him a “despicable human being” who is unfit for office, according to a biography by journalist Michael Tackett.