President Biden was unaware for days that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized: report

Reports indicate that President Biden was kept in the dark for several days regarding the hospitalization of Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin. Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday, January 1 due to complications following a minor elective procedure. The Defense Secretary's hospitalization was not made public until Friday, and even then it was the Air Force's Major General Pat Ryder, Pentagon's spokesman, who disclosed it.

President Biden, 81, was finally informed about Austin's situation on Thursday afternoon by National security advisor, Jake Sullivan, CNN reported. No further details about Austin’s medical condition were provided.

On Saturday, Austin released a statement saying that he was recovering and anticipated returning to the Pentagon soon. The 70-year-old former four-star Army general also apologized for the lack of information, stating, “I understand that there have been media concerns about transparency. I acknowledge I could have done a better job ensuring the public was suitably informed. I will strive to improve.”

The date of Austin's hospital discharge has not been declared. Ryder explained to reporters that the decision not to immediately disclose Austin's hospitalization was based on various factors, including medical and personal privacy concerns.

The delayed notification sparked criticism from the Pentagon Press Association, condemning the decision to keep the American public in the dark. They conveyed their outrage in a letter directed to Ryder and Chris Meagher, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, expressing strong disapproval over the late disclosure of Austin's hospital stay.