India, July 13 -- US senator Mitch McConnell on Sunday revealed for the first time that a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking the silence about the Kentucky Republican's condition after weeks of mounting speculation about his health.

McConnell, 84, said in a statement that he has undergone a battery of tests as doctors try to determine what led to his fall.

The statement included a smiling picture of McConnell with his wife, Elaine Chao, a tacit response to speculation online that he had died or was incapacitated. McConnell held a copy of Sunday's Washington Post sports section in his hand.

However, the photo has drawn scrutiny online. Laura Loomer posted, "Why does the text on the newspaper McConnell's staff claim he's holding l...