White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that President Joe Biden “continues to have full confidence” in Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after the latter was admitted to the intensive care unit on January 1. But he said he did not warn Biden. His condition remains until Thursday, January 4th.
A reporter asked Jean-Pierre, “Given the lack of transparency, should the American people trust Austin?”
Jean-Pierre then claimed Austin “took responsibility” in a statement on Saturday.
In that statement, Austin said:
I would like to thank the wonderful doctors and nursing staff at Walter Reed Hospital for the exceptional care they provided me and the personal warmth they showed my family. I also appreciate all the help and blessings from my colleagues and friends. Charlene and I are very grateful for your support.
I am very happy that he is on the mend and looks forward to returning to the Department of Defense soon.
We also understand that the media is concerned about transparency and recognize that they could have ensured that the public was properly informed. I promise to do better.
But this is important. This is my medical practice and I am solely responsible for decisions regarding disclosure.
Jean-Pierre continued:
So I'd like to go back to Austin's statement from a few days ago. He took responsibility. I think that's important, so he would like to point that out. And I want to reiterate that the President has and continues to have full confidence in Secretary Austin.
“Can Americans have confidence?” [Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin]Given his lack of transparency? ”
Karine Jean-Pierre: 'The president continues to have full confidence' pic.twitter.com/LAMCdP28Mq
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) January 8, 2024
“We want to see him recover and return to the Pentagon,” she said, adding that Biden and Austin had a “very good” conversation on Saturday.
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