US media outlets reported on Saturday that President Joe Biden was not informed by the Pentagon for at least three days regarding the hospitalization of his Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin. The revelation came to light when National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan finally updated the President on Austin’s health condition.
According to Politico, President Biden remained unaware of Lloyd Austin’s whereabouts as the Defense Secretary was admitted to the hospital on January 1. The news not only shocked Biden but also caught top officials in the White House off guard.
The Pentagon later issued an official statement on January 4, explaining the delay in informing the Commander-in-Chief. Pentagon spokesperson Patrick S. Ryder cited the evolving nature of the situation, taking into consideration various factors, including medical and personal privacy concerns.
President Biden, aged 81, was reportedly informed by his national security advisor, with officials confirming that the President had no prior knowledge of Austin’s hospitalization. An official remarked, “If Jake didn’t know, no way the president knew,” underscoring Jake Sullivan’s pivotal role in conveying the information to Biden.
Despite the delayed update, officials revealed that the US Commander-in-Chief had a “cordial conversation” with Secretary Austin on Saturday night, expressing complete trust and confidence in him.
White House officials expressed surprise at learning about the 70-year-old Pentagon chief’s hospitalization days after the fact. Lloyd Austin was reportedly dealing with complications following an “elective medical procedure.”
Reports suggest that Congress and other institutions were informed only 15 minutes before the official public statement was released on Friday evening.
Acknowledging the situation on Saturday, Secretary Austin admitted, “I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better. But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.”
The Pentagon Press Association condemned the failure to report Austin’s condition and hospitalization, labeling it “an outrage.” They emphasized the public’s right to know about the health status of US cabinet members, asserting that, as the nation’s top defense leader, Secretary Austin had no claim to privacy in this situation.
The incident has sparked criticism and raised questions about transparency within the Pentagon, highlighting the delicate balance between personal privacy and the public’s right to be informed about the health of key government officials.
