Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified Thursday to Congress that it is common for him not to speak to President Joe Biden for “many days.”
“Is it normal for a president to go three days without talking to the secretary of defense? Is it normal for a president to go days without talking to the commander in chief?” of the House Armed Services Preparedness Subcommittee. Chairman Jim Banks (R-Ind.) questioned Austin during the hearing, focusing on his failure to tell the commander-in-chief for three days that he was hospitalized.
Attention — Is Biden completely clueless about his Cabinet? Mea Culpa on Lloyd Austin’s cancer concealment surgery:
U.S. Department of Defense, via Storyful
“I mean, it could happen,” Austin replied. “It depends on whether the president is traveling or I’m traveling. Sometimes we go days without direct communication.”
Banks responded, “So, for me, the big question here is, either the president is that aloof, or you’re irrelevant. Which?”
Austin insisted, “Neither.” The president is not an aloof person, and neither am I. I participate in all important decision-making processes. ”
Watch the video:
Mr. Austin’s confession came during a congressional hearing in which he said he did not inform Biden, the commander-in-chief, of his hospitalization until three full days after he was hospitalized.
Austin did not say how often he went “days” without speaking to Biden, but as Breitbart News previously reported, Biden will hold 37% of his time in the White House in 2023. Outside, he spent time at his beach home, Camp David, in Delaware, or on vacation. , and 38 percent in 2022 came out of the White House.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden sit under an umbrella in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on August 2, 2023. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said he believes no one in the White House noticed Austin’s absence during two wars and attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. He said it was “very concerning” and “extremely concerning.”
“War was raging in Ukraine and Israel. Our ships were shelled in the Red Sea. And our bases were preparing for attacks in Syria and Iraq. I didn’t know the chief was out,” Rogers said.
WATCH — Moulton Democrat: Will fire Austin ‘in about 5 minutes’:
“During this period, our military conducted pre-authorized attacks against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. If there had been, valuable time would have been wasted while the president was searching for a secretary of defense. If the commander-in-chief doesn’t know who to call, the chain of command doesn’t work.” Mr. Rogers said.
“I am extremely concerned that a secretary could be hospitalized for three days without anyone in the administration noticing. “It suggests that it is not wanted or considered in the White House,” he added.
“This also means that politicians in the White House, rather than experienced defense experts, are in the driver’s seat on national security issues, which is very concerning.” Mr. Rogers concluded.
Follow Christina Wong’s X on Breitbart News. society of truth,or Facebook.
