{"id":2143403,"date":"2024-01-08T13:48:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T18:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-wont-sack-defense-secretary-over-secret-hospitalization-report\/"},"modified":"2024-01-08T13:50:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T18:50:55","slug":"biden-wont-sack-defense-secretary-over-secret-hospitalization-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-wont-sack-defense-secretary-over-secret-hospitalization-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden to Keep Defense Secretary Despite Secret Hospitalization: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbiden-wont-sack-defense-secretary-over-secret-hospitalization-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2143403&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>President Biden Stands by\u2064 Secretary of Defense Austin Amid Hospitalization Controversy<\/h2>\n<div>\n<figure><figcaption>Lloyd\u2063 Austin \u2062(Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>President Joe Biden has made it clear that he will not fire Secretary of Defense\u2063 Lloyd Austin, nor accept his resignation, despite Austin&#8217;s \u2062failure to promptly inform the president of his hospitalization, according to\u200b <em>Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Multiple\u200c officials\u200d within the \u200badministration have confirmed that Biden has no intention of dismissing Austin.\u200b In fact, \u200dif \u200bthe secretary were to offer his \u2064resignation, the president would refuse to accept it, as reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/01\/08\/biden-austin-resignation-00134280\">Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This news comes in response to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby&#8217;s statement that Biden has no plans to replace Austin, stating \u2063that the president wants him to continue in\u200c his role.<\/p>\n<p>Last\u200c Friday, the Pentagon revealed that Austin had been admitted to Walter Reed National Military\u200c Medical Center on January 1st due to complications from a medical \u2064procedure. Austin himself acknowledged his hospitalization in a\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3633506\/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-medical-care\/\">statement<\/a> the following day, expressing regret for\u2063 not keeping the public properly informed.<\/p>\n<p>Reports over the weekend revealed\u200b that \u2063both National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and President\u2063 Biden were unaware \u200dof Austin&#8217;s condition until three days after \u200bhe was hospitalized. The \u200bPentagon released a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/3633580\/statement-from-pentagon-press-secretary-maj-gen-pat-ryder-on-secretary-austins\/\">statement<\/a> on Sunday, confirming that Austin remains at Walter Reed and that there is no set timeline for\u2063 his release.<\/p>\n<p>The exact reason for\u2063 Austin&#8217;s \u200chospitalization is still unclear. The Pentagon&#8217;s \u200bstatement on Friday mentioned &#8220;complications following a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/deputy-who-assumed-defense-secretarys-duties-was-not-told-about-his-hospitalization-for-days-report\/\" title=\"Deputy unaware of Defense Secretary's hospitalization for days: Report\">recent elective medical procedure<\/a>.&#8221;\u200d Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, \u2064the Pentagon&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-say-bidens-female-led-comms-is-a-first-trump-has-that-now\/\" title=\"Media Say Biden's Female-Led Comms Is A First. Trump Has That Now\">press secretary<\/a>,\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/biden-exasperated-informed-lloyd-austins-hospitalization-source\/story?id=106168484#:~:text=In%20a%20statement%20initially%20provided,to%20Walter%20Reed%2C%20Ryder%20said.\">told<\/a> ABC\u200d News\u2063 that\u2064 Austin underwent the procedure on December 22nd, returning home \u200dthe\u200c next day \u2062but going back to\u2062 the hospital on New Year&#8217;s Day\u2062 due to\u2062 &#8220;severe pain,&#8221; which led to his\u200b placement in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/officials-eleven-soldiers-hospitalized-after-ingesting-chemical-found-in-antifreeze\/\" title=\"Officials: Eleven Soldiers Hospitalized After Ingesting Chemical Found In Antifreeze\">intensive care unit<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For privacy reasons, we&#8217;re not able to \u200bprovide additional\u2063 information,&#8221; Ryder stated.<\/p>\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nhls-dallas-stars-statement-after-mark-cuban-anthem-ban-were-playing-the-national-anthem\/\" title=\"NHL\u2019s Dallas Stars\u2019 Statement After Mark Cuban Anthem Ban: We\u2019re Playing The National Anthem\">controversy surrounding<\/a> Austin arises amidst heightened tensions in \u2062the Middle East, particularly concerning Israel&#8217;s \u200dconflict with\u2062 Hamas. Additionally, Yemen&#8217;s Iran-backed Houthis\u2063 have \u200dbeen launching\u200c attacks on commercial and military vessels in\u2062 the \u200dRed\u200c Sea, while Iranian proxies in \u2062Iraq and Syria have targeted American military \u200dpersonnel on numerous occasions since the \u200dstart of the war.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What factors may have influenced President \u200bBiden&#8217;s decision \u200cto\u200b support Defense Secretary\u2064 Austin, considering his \u200cextensive experience and achievements in \u200bthe\u2064 role<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Remained in the hospital until\u200c January 4th\u2062 and \u200dwas \u200dsubsequently released. However, the controversy surrounding his hospitalization stems from the fact that \u200cPresident Biden was not informed about it until January 7th, three days after Austin was released.<\/p>\n<p>The delayed\u200b communication has raised \u200bconcerns about transparency and \u200daccountability within the\u2062 administration. Critics argue that Austin&#8217;s failure to promptly inform the president of his\u200b hospitalization reflects a lack\u2064 of trust\u200d and open communication between the \u2064defense secretary and\u2063 the commander-in-chief.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these \u200dconcerns, President Biden has chosen to stand by\u2062 Austin\u2063 and maintain his position in the Cabinet. White \u200dHouse Press Secretary Jen Psaki\u200c affirmed this \u200ddecision, stating that the president has &#8220;full confidence&#8221; in Austin&#8217;s ability to lead the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n<p>Psaki \u2063emphasized \u2062that Austin&#8217;s hospitalization was\u200b a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-best-interests-of-children-have-often-come-dead-last-watch-mcconnell-tear-into-teachers-unions\/\" title=\"\u2018The Best Interests Of Children Have Often Come Dead Last\u2019: Watch McConnell Tear Into Teachers\u2019 Unions\">routine medical procedure<\/a> and that there was no\u200c cause for alarm. She\u2062 also reiterated \u2063that the president was \u2063not at risk during Austin&#8217;s hospital \u2062stay.<\/p>\n<p>The president&#8217;s decision to support Austin may stem\u2063 from the secretary&#8217;s extensive\u200c experience and qualifications. Austin, a retired four-star\u200d Army general, \u200cserved as the commander of U.S. Central Command under President Barack Obama.\u200c His nomination\u2064 as Secretary of Defense received \u200dwidespread bipartisan support, \u200dand\u2064 he was confirmed by\u200b the Senate with a strong \u200bmajority.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Austin&#8217;s\u200c tenure as defense secretary has been marked by several significant achievements. He played \u2062a crucial role in\u2062 the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the successful evacuation of American citizens and \u2063allies from Kabul. Austin has also prioritized addressing the ongoing\u2063 threats posed by China and\u2062 Russia, emphasizing the need for\u2062 a robust and strategic defense posture.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200c light of these accomplishments, President Biden&#8217;s\u2064 decision to stand by Austin can \u200bbe seen as a testament to his confidence in the secretary&#8217;s leadership and capabilities. It also \u200cunderscores \u2063the president&#8217;s commitment to \u2063uniting his administration and fostering \u200ca sense of stability and continuity within the Department \u2063of Defense.<\/p>\n<p>While the controversy surrounding Austin&#8217;s \u200chospitalization raises legitimate concerns about communication \u200band transparency, it \u200dis clear that President Biden has\u2063 chosen to prioritize the secretary&#8217;s experience and accomplishments. By standing by Austin,\u200c the president sends a message of trust and \u2063support, while also signaling his \u2064determination to tackle the pressing national security challenges \u200cfacing the United States.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Biden will not fire Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin or accept his resignation, despite Austin&#8217;s failure to promptly inform the president of his hospitalization. Biden has no plans to dismiss Austin, according to administration officials<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2112,"featured_media":2143404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2143403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2143403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2112"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2143403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2143403\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2143404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2143403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2143403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2143403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}