A White House official said on Monday that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will not be fired. Austin was in the hospital last week while President Joe Biden was unaware.
According to the White House, Biden has no plans to fire his defense secretary, despite the uncertainty over Austin's hospital stay.
The minister was admitted to the hospital last Monday for unnecessary procedures. Austin then had to stay in the hospital until Saturday due to complications. According to American media, he is in intensive care. The White House cannot confirm the latter.
As Secretary of Defense, the seventy-year-old Austin holds a key position in the command structure of the US Armed Forces. After President Biden, who is the commander in chief, he is the second in command. He is the link between the military leadership and the president.
It is possible that this role will be transferred to the deputy minister, but it is unclear whether this has happened. News site POLITICO It was reported on Saturday that Biden only learned on Thursday that his minister was in the hospital.
“I realize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was informed,” Austin wrote in a brief statement on Saturday. “I promise I'll get better.”
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Defensieminister VS lag dagen in het ziekenhuis zonder dat president het wist
