An investigative report published by the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF) alleges that Elaine Chao, wife of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), held multiple positions within the Chinese government between 2008 and her recent Senate confirmation hearings. According to DCNF translations of Chinese state media reports, Chao—whose Chinese name is Zhao Xiaolan—has received at least four official roles in China’s government since 2008, including appointments within the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a CCP agency that steers foreign policy and accesses advanced technology.
Chao served as Secretary of Labor during President George W. Bush’s administration and later as Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump. During her January 2017 Senate confirmation hearing for the transportation role, she did not disclose any Chinese government positions held in the past decade, despite being required to list them. DCNF further notes that Chao was an advisor and committee member of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) from September 2012 through September 2017—a role linked by a The Jamestown Foundation fellow to promoting Chinese narratives and conducting influence operations.
The report states Chao’s late sister and father also held Chinese government positions. A former State Armor advisory board member, Jacqueline Deal, criticized Chao’s tenure as Transportation Secretary, stating she “did nothing to fix U.S. policy failures” while her family business profited from CCP activities. Chao’s spokesman denied any foreign government roles or actions on behalf of China, calling DCNF’s report “racist.”
Historical suspicions about Chao’s ties have persisted since 2001, when WorldNetDaily alleged personal connections to Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Earlier reports by Peter Schweizer and comments from former Georgia GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene—both claiming financial or spy links—have intensified scrutiny. On X, Greene recently called for an investigation into Chao’s alleged role as a CCP agent.