Defense Secretary Apologizes, Takes Responsibility for Last Year’s Embarrassment

During a press conference, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized to the American people for a public embarrassment late last year: the fact that, when Austin was briefly hospitalized for cancer treatment, he and his staff did not notify President Biden.

“In my first week back in the Pentagon, I did want to address my recent hospital stay and some of the issues around it,” Austin began. 

After informing the public he was recovering well and thanking them for their well wishes, the secretary continued.

“But I wanna be crystal clear: we did not handle this right. I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”

After issuing this unambiguous apology and acceptance of responsibility, Austin was quick to make a critical assurance. “Now, I wanna make it very clear that there were no gaps in authorities and no risk to the Department’s command and control. At every moment, either I or the deputy secretary was in full charge. And we’ve already put in place some new procedures to make sure that any lapses in notification don’t happen.” 

Secretary Austin was savaged by Republicans and right wing media most savagely, but even by mainstream media for his failure to disclose his condition to the president and, in turn, the American people. 

Many believed it carried the perception of defense vulnerability, a defense secretary potentially unable to discharge his duties due to hospitalization and a commander-in-chief potentially kept out of the loop. 

Though many Republicans called for his resignation, President Biden told the press he would neither seek nor accept it.

Video credits: CNN