President Biden gave a strong assurance to reporters while touring businesses outside Allentown that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will remain on his job despite his hospitalization. When asked whether or not he had confidence in Austin as retired general, Biden responded “yes”.
The Pentagon took days to notify senior administration officials and the White House about Austin’s hospitalization following complications from his prostate cancer surgery, leading to grave concerns about national security and the chain of command.
President Biden Says He Has Confidence in Defense Secretary
President Trump addressed questions over Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s failure to disclose his hospitalization while in Turkey for elective medical procedure on New Year’s Day. He expressed full confidence in Austin, and looks forward to him returning to work.
Vice President Joe Biden raised this issue while touring small businesses in Allentown, Pennsylvania alongside Gov. Josh Shapiro. While on this visit, President Biden joked about his running habits by using a bicycle when going for runs – it was great seeing shop owners’ bikes!
President Donald Trump during his remarks strongly criticized Congress’s decision to shield gun manufacturers from civil lawsuits brought by victims and their families due to their weapons’ role in mass shootings. He encouraged legislators to reverse an exemption granted under “The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms” law passed in 2005; otherwise it would make it harder for Americans to sue tobacco companies over death and injury caused by cigarettes. He also applauded Israel’s counterattack on Hamas while assuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of US support in their efforts in pushing Russian forces out of Ukrainian territory.
President Biden Says It Was a Lapse in Judgement
President Joe Biden said on Friday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made an error of judgment by failing to notify him about his hospitalization and cancer diagnosis sooner. Reporters asked Biden as he visited businesses in Allentown, Pennsylvania if he still trusted Austin who remains hospitalized due to complications from prostate cancer surgery.
Reporters at the scene reported that Biden gave a definitive “yes,” according to reports at the scene. This marked his first public statement regarding this matter after prior indications by White House officials that President Barack Obama supported his top military advisor.
The Pentagon kept Austin’s hospitalization and cancer diagnosis secret for days until Walter Reed doctors announced them in a news dump on January 5. This revelation led to widespread criticism and calls for the resignation of top military official General Raymond Odierno.
As of Friday afternoon, 70-year-old Austin was still hospitalized in intensive care. According to White House Spokesman John Kirby, Austin continued working from his hospital bed, giving final approval for airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Additionally, the Pentagon is conducting an internal review regarding procedures regarding delegating authority from senior cabinet members during hospitalizations.
President Biden Says It Was a Lapse in Judgment
Vice President Joe Biden expressed confidence in Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin despite his failure to disclose his hospitalization until this week. At a coffee shop tour in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Biden was asked by reporters if it had been negligent for Austin not to inform the public sooner about his health condition.
Austin, 70, had been hospitalized since December 22 with an unknown medical issue; only on Tuesday did the White House learn of his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Biden was informed of Austin’s diagnosis on Jan. 2; top staffers have reported that he immediately delegated authority and monitored US and British strikes on Houthi rebel targets in Yemen from Walter Reed Medical Center on Thursday from Walter Reed’s hospitalized patient bed, officials believe Austin can still carry out his duties and monitor events live despite being hospitalized for the second week in treatment for prostate cancer.
The Vice President will remain focused on tackling some of the nation’s most pressing national security challenges: strengthening our national security workforce, rebuilding democratic alliances across the globe, championing America’s values and human rights around the globe and equipping American middle classes to thrive in a global economy. In addition, he continues to lead an agenda aimed at reducing gun violence, combatting climate change and strengthening our military.
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