Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed in an interview with MSNBC host Jen Psaki that the announcement of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization “could have been handled better” and that President Biden should know. He said it was.
Psaki asked Pelosi how “concerned” she was about the lack of disclosure from Austin's side.
“My primary concern is his health and what that health is and why he hasn't disclosed it. But the chain of command is something that really needs to be respected. “And the President of the United States is its commander. “The Secretary should have known, but again, we don't know the details of this, but I think this could have been handled better. I think so,” Pelosi said.
Psaki also asked if Pelosi was confident that Austin would continue to serve as secretary of defense.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined MSNBC host Jen Psaki on Monday to react to the Pentagon's withholding of information about U.S. federal secretaries. Austin's hospitalization. (Screenshot/MSNBC)
Pentagon deputy commander announces Austin hospitalized two days after taking over part of mission
Pelosi said she was a big fan of Austin, but concluded it was ultimately up to him and the president.
“But that's really a problem for him and the president of the United States, because no one knows more about the chain of command than the secretary of defense and the commander in chief,” she said.
“Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on New Year's Day due to complications following a recent elective medical procedure,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters a few days later.
The Pentagon's deputy commander, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, did not know Austin was hospitalized when she assumed part of the mission early last week, a senior military official said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized a week after suffering severe pain following elective surgery, the Pentagon announced Monday. (Ian Waldie/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Defense Secretary Austin hospitalized due to surgical complications
The National Security Council and Mr. Biden were unaware of Mr. Austin's several-day hospitalization.
The Pentagon revealed that the White House was kept in secrecy because Austin's chief of staff had the flu. The Pentagon and Austin were quickly criticized for withholding information.
“Somebody's got to roll on their heads,” a Pentagon official told Politico on Sunday.
“Do not say, [White House], telling Congress and the media that he's sick and then telling Pentagon officials that he's working from home is next level. “This is a problem,” the official said, adding, “Someone has made a decision not to go public. That person may be gone soon.”
President Biden (left) and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (right) (Demetrius Freeman/Washington Post via Getty Images//Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Austin issued a statement Saturday, citing concerns about “transparency.”
“I am very pleased to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Department of Defense soon,” he said. “I also understand the media's concerns about transparency and recognize that we could have done a better job of ensuring the public is properly informed. I am committed to doing better. But this is important: This is my medical practice and I take full responsibility for my decisions regarding disclosure. ”
