Not only Joe Biden, but also senior White House officials were also shocked to learn of Austin’s health status.
US media reported on Saturday that the Pentagon kept US commander-in-chief Joe Biden for at least three days, ignoring the hospitalization of his Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin until he was informed by the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.
political reported on Saturday that President Joe Biden was unaware of Lloyd Austin’s whereabouts as the secretary was admitted to the hospital on January 1.
Not only Biden but also senior White House officials were shocked to learn of the health status of the Pentagon chief for whom he was hospitalized.
The Pentagon issued an official statement about its boss on January 4.
Pentagon spokesman Patrick S. Ryder explained the delay Saturday: “It was an evolving situation, in which we had to consider a number of factors, including medical and personal privacy issues.”
The 81-year-old president was only informed by his national security adviser and officials ruled out that Biden had prior knowledge of the Pentagon chief’s hospitalization.
“If Jake didn’t know, there’s no way the president would know,” one of the officials said, mentioning that “who would have told Austin’s condition but Jake? And if anyone had told the president, Jake would have told him.” “. “It was his first call.”
The officials also said the U.S. commander in chief had a “cordial conversation” with Secretary Austin on Saturday night.
“The president has complete confidence in Secretary Austin,” they said.
White House officials were surprised when they were informed, after several days of ignorance, about the hospitalization of the 70-year-old Pentagon chief, who was facing complications following an “elective medical procedure.”
Other institutions, such as Congress, were also informed 15 minutes before revealing the official public statement until Friday night.
According to US media reports, Austin said on Saturday: “I could have done a better job ensuring the public was properly informed. I am committed to doing better. But it is important to say this: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility “. for my disclosure decisions.
The Pentagon Press Association called the failure to report Austin’s condition and hospitalization “an outrage.”
“The public has the right to know when members of the US Cabinet are hospitalized, under anesthesia, or when duties are delegated to them as a result of any medical procedure. That has been the practice even down to the level of the president. As the top defense leader said of the nation, Secretary Austin has no right to privacy in this situation,” the group said in a statement Friday.
