US media reported Saturday that US Commander-in-Chief Joe Biden was kept in the dark by the Pentagon for at least three days about the hospitalization of his Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, until National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan informed him.
Politico reported Saturday that President Joe Biden did not know Lloyd Austin’s whereabouts since the secretary was admitted to the hospital on January 1.
Not only Biden, but the top officials of the White House were also shocked after learning about the health condition of the Pentagon chief, due to which he was hospitalized.
The Pentagon released an official statement about its chief on January 4.
Pentagon spokesman Patrick S. Ryder explained the delay on Saturday: “This was an evolving situation in which we had to consider a number of factors, including health concerns and personal privacy concerns.”
The 81-year-old president was briefed only by his national security adviser, with officials ruling out Biden’s prior knowledge of the Pentagon chief’s hospitalization.
“If Jake didn’t know, neither did the president,” one official said, noting that “who would have told him about Austin’s condition if not Jake? And if someone had told the president, Jake would” it was his first phone call .”
Officials also said the US commander in chief had a “cordial conversation” with Secretary Austin on Saturday evening.
“The President has complete confidence in Secretary Austin,” they noted.
White House officials were surprised when they were informed after several days in the dark about the hospitalization of the 70-year-old Pentagon chief, who was dealing with complications after an “elective medical procedure.”
Other institutions such as Congress were also informed 15 minutes before the release of the official public statement until Friday evening.
According to US media reports, Austin said on Saturday: “I could have done a better job of making sure the public was properly informed. I promise to do better. But it’s important to say: this was my medical procedure and I take full responsibility.” for my decision to disclose.”
The Pentagon Press Association called the failure to report Austin’s condition and hospitalization “outrageous.”
“The public has a right to know when members of the U.S. Cabinet are hospitalized, under anesthesia, or when duties are delegated as a result of any medical procedure. Such practice has even reached the level of the President. As the nation’s top defense leader, Secretary Austin has no right in this situation to privacy,” the group said in a statement Friday.
