President Biden expresses confidence in Defense Secretary Austin despite hospitalization delay

Published: 12 January 2024 at 17:25

Politics

President Joe Biden has expressed his confidence in Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after the Pentagon waited three days to inform the White House about Austins hospitalization and ICU stay. Biden acknowledged that Austin had a lapse in judgment for not informing the White House earlier. The presidents comments came in response to reporters questions during a visit to a coffee shop in Pennsylvania. Austin, who underwent surgery for prostate cancer, was taken to the hospital on January 1 and transferred to the ICU the next day, but the White House was not informed until January 4. Both the White House and Austin have acknowledged the issue and expressed a commitment to improve transparency.