Who Is In Charge Here? White House Not Notified Of Austin's Hospitalization For Days; CNN Defends It

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized on New Year's Day for 'complications following an elective medical procedure', but the White House -- and President Biden -- were not informed until January 4th. Austin is a cabinet member, and sixth in line for the presidency. Someone dropped the ball here. Big time. -- Pentagon took 3 days to inform White House’s NSC of Austin’s hospitalization https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/pentagon-took-3-days-to-inform-white-houses-nsc-of-austins-hospitalization-00134176 -- Politico writes: The Pentagon did not tell President Joe Biden and other top officials about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization for three days, three U.S. officials said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House aides didn’t know of Austin’s Jan. 1 hospitalization until the Defense Department sent over word Jan. 4, two other U.S. officials said. Sullivan informed Biden shortly after DOD’s Thursday notification. The officials said it was highly unlikely that Austin conveyed word to Biden privately before Sullivan’s briefing. “If Jake didn’t know, no way the president knew,” one of them said. “Who would have told him of Austin’s condition if not Jake? And if someone did tell the president, Jake would’ve been his first call.” -- Mentioned about halfway through the story is the fact Austin spent four days in the ICU. So this wasn't just a cold. It was serious. How is that even possible. Is that not a huge security concern? Someone messed up and didn't do their job.

Unacceptable & dangerous. Secretary of Defense is a key member of the U.S. national security team & has a critical role in our most sensitive military & nuclear protocols. Sec. Austin must come to SASC immediately, explain why this happened & who helped keep it from our nation’s leaders. The public doesn't necessarily need to know this, but the White House did. -- CNN has now confirmed that President Biden was not aware that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized and in intensive care for nearly four days. Biden only found out when National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan informed him Thursday afternoon shortly after Sullivan himself found out. https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/06/politics/lloyd-austin-hospitalization-officials/index.html

Just incredible stuff. This only happens if those in charge feel no obligation to inform the president, or they have no confidence in the president. Great job, everyone. There were also security risks from having him in the ICU. Were other protocols followed? The competition for most dysfunctional branch of the US government is really heating up.

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https://twitchy.com/amy-curtis/2024/01/07/dod-didnt-notify-wh-austin-hospitalized-n2391464