The former ambassador slammed President Biden's response to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's mysterious illness and hospitalization, saying it was “alarming” that Biden didn't realize he was “off duty” sooner. ” he said.
The Pentagon alerted the media last Friday that Austin was hospitalized on January 1 and remains under the care of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Officials said he underwent an elective medical procedure last month and was hospitalized a few days later. On Tuesday, the Department of Defense announced that Austin was being treated for prostate cancer.
Mr. Biden, along with National Security Council and Pentagon leaders, including Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, had been informed for several days that Mr. Austin had been admitted to a hospital's intensive care unit for treatment on New Year's Day. It wasn't.
James Gilmore, who served as ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe during the Trump administration, said it was concerning that Biden was “so isolated” from the Pentagon that his absence was not noticed. Ta.
Defense Secretary Austin has no plans to resign, the Pentagon says
Former Trump Ambassador James Gilmore said it was “alarming” that Biden was unaware of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's absence. (Photo by Darren McColester/Getty Images)
“From my experience as an ambassador, I know that our allies need to know that the United States is capable and organized to provide leadership in times of global conflict,” said former Virginia governor and military said Gilmore, whose background is in the information field. He spoke to FOX News Digital about his military service during the Vietnam War. “The world, both allies and adversaries, watches the United States and its leaders every day for signs of strength or weakness.”
“It's alarming that President Biden has been so indifferent from the Pentagon that they didn't even know the secretary was absent, but that the defense leadership didn't feel the need to tell President Biden,” Gilmore said. That's true.'' “Biden is nothing more than an 'autopilot president' who shows every day that he is out of control at a time of great danger to our country.”
A Biden administration official responded to the criticism by saying, “I don't know him very well,” in a quote to Fox News Digital.
“But if Donald Trump had nothing to say when he blatantly lied to the American people about his coronavirus infection in the middle of a pandemic, we can't listen to him now. We can’t,” the official continued.
Following the ordeal, President Trump said Austin “should be fired immediately,” and other Republicans also called for Austin to resign.
President Biden (left) and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (right) (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“He's been missing for a week and no one, including his boss, Crooked Joe Biden, has a clue where he is or might be,” President Trump previously said in a post on Truth Social. ” he said.
Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks told Axios over the weekend that Austin “has been a disaster from day one, preparing the military for war rather than advancing the woke political causes of the Biden administration.” He should be replaced by someone who is focused on winning.” . ”
U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale's (R-Mont.) office told Fox News Digital on Monday that the office believes Austin has “violated his oath of office” multiple times due to the Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan. , said lawmakers are introducing articles of impeachment against Austin.The immigration crisis at the border and last year's incident with a Chinese spy ship hovering over the U.S. mainland
“Secretary Austin has allowed spy balloons from foreign adversaries to fly over Malmstrom Air Force Base, home to intercontinental ballistic missiles, and for allowing the Chinese Communist Party to collect intelligence on American citizens. He knowingly endangered the American people and jeopardized our national security,” the Montana Republican said.
Defense Secretary Austin resumes duty after being kept in the dark from public appearances and spending several days in intensive care
Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, July 23, 2022 (Sarah Freeman/Fox News)
Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others said Austin lacked the “competence” to lead the Pentagon.
“And he proved it again by keeping it a secret while he was seriously ill and in intensive care,” Green posted on X.
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The secret hospitalization has been a headache for the White House, which told Fox News Digital Monday morning that Biden has no plans to replace Austin and that he “continues to have full confidence and confidence in the Secretary.” I'm leaving it there,” he said.
Austin is still hospitalized, but has resumed his duties and is now recovering.
The New York Times reported Tuesday that the White House has ordered Cabinet members to “evaluate current policy regarding delegation of authority in cases of secretary incompetence and forward procedures to the White House for review.”
Fox News Digital's Emma Colton and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
