During a recent hearing, questions were raised regarding the timeline of events surrounding Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's hospitalization and the communication with President Biden. The Secretary clarified that he was admitted to the hospital on January 1st and his staff informed the national security advisor on January 4th. He denied instructing his staff to withhold information from the President or the White House.
Concerns were raised about the accountability for the breakdown in the notification process, with the Secretary taking responsibility for the missteps highlighted in a 30-day review. He emphasized that measures have been implemented to improve the notification process in the future.
When asked about the President's lack of communication during his hospitalization, Secretary Austin explained that it is not unusual for days to pass without direct contact, especially during travel periods. He refuted suggestions of aloofness or irrelevance on either his or the President's part.
The Secretary defended the operational capabilities of his deputy, who had control over secure communications and decision-making processes while he was hospitalized. He emphasized the importance of projecting strength to adversaries and dismissed claims of embarrassment.
External commentary from Chinese and Russian propaganda outlets was mentioned, suggesting that the incident may have been perceived as exposing internal chaos and compromising leadership.
