“There are no plans or anything other than Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin continuing in his role and position,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on January 8.
Spokesman John Kirby stressed that President Joe Biden's number one focus is the health and recovery of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. According to John Kirby, President Biden wants "Lloyd Austin to return to duty at the Pentagon as soon as possible."
US President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (Photo: AP)
“President Joe Biden respects and appreciates the work of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, especially his handling of crises over the past nearly two years,” said spokesman John Kirby.
Earlier, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized due to “complications following a recent elective medical procedure,” emphasizing that Lloyd Austin is “recovering well” and continues to fulfill his duties while in the hospital.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Medical Center on January 1. However, the Department of Defense only announced to the public on January 5 that Lloyd Austin could continue to perform his duties remotely. The White House was only informed three days after he was admitted.
According to two US officials, it was not until January 4 that the Pentagon informed the White House National Security Council and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about Mr. Austin's hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
In a statement released late on January 6, Mr. Austin took responsibility for not announcing that he had been hospitalized. Secretary Austin said he was recovering and would soon return to the Pentagon, but he did not provide details about his illness.
Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas conflict, attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea by pro-Iranian forces in Yemen, and attacks by other forces in Iraq and Syria on U.S. forces with rockets and drones. The U.S. on Jan. 4 retaliated with drone strikes in Baghdad, Iraq.
Kong Anh (Source: The Hill)
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