By Micheal Chukwuebuka, Reporting
PRESIDENT Joe Biden, during a news conference on Friday, publicly faulted Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for not informing him earlier that he was hospitalized for complications from cancer treatment.
Biden affirmed when a reporter asked whether it was a lapse in judgement for Austin not to inform him earlier, adding that he still has confidence in the defense secretary.
Stonix News reported that the defense secretary underwent a minimal invasive surgical procedure for prostate cancer, which led to a urinary tract infection and serious intestinal complications.
As the U.S. planned and led a coalition of retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen over the group’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, Austin remained hospitalized.
“His participation was no different than it would be on any other given day, except that he was briefing the president on options and engaged in the discussions from the hospital. But he was fully engaged as he would be in any other event,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.
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