'Never knows where he is': Joe Biden mocked for being unaware of Lloyd Austin's hospitalization for days

WASHINGTON, DC: In an eyebrow-raising turn of events, it has been revealed that President Joe Biden was kept in the dark for several days about the hospitalization of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

A source familiar with the matter informed CNN that Biden became aware of Austin's situation after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan informed him late Thursday afternoon, January 4. Austin had been admitted to the hospital on New Year's Day due to complications arising from elective surgery.

Delayed disclosure and Austin's admission

The official announcement from the Pentagon regarding Austin's hospitalization came on January 5 - triggering a barrage of questions about the transparency of information within the administration.

Austin, in his first statement issued on January 6, admitted that he could have "done a better job" in notifying the public about his health status. “I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed,” the 70-year-old said, adding, “I commit to doing better.”

However, he stopped short of offering an apology for the delayed communication.

As of Saturday evening, Austin remained hospitalized, expressing gratitude to the staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for their care. He mentioned being "on the mend" and eagerly looking forward to returning to his duties at the Pentagon.

Despite this positive outlook, Austin provided no details about the nature of his condition or the specific reasons behind his hospitalization.

The delayed notification to the White House about Austin's hospitalization has raised eyebrows among senior administration officials, highlighting the unusual circumstances surrounding the situation.

On the very day Austin was admitted to the hospital, New Year's Day, he actively participated in a call with President Biden, discussing critical national security matters in the Red Sea. The timing and contents of this call, coupled with the subsequent delayed awareness within the White House about Austin's hospitalization, have added to the unusual situation.

Deputy Secretary Hicks steps in

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks temporarily assumed Austin's duties during his hospitalization, having arrived in Puerto Rico before Austin's medical situation came to light. Hicks, according to two US officials, periodically took on the responsibilities of the Defense Secretary.

Austin has since resumed his full duties, with a White House official describing a subsequent call between Biden and Austin as a "warm conversation" and expressing the president's complete confidence in Austin's capabilities.

Interestingly, congressional oversight committees were not notified of Austin's hospitalization until Friday night, according to three congressional aides familiar with the matter. This delay in informing key oversight bodies has further fueled concerns about the transparency of the Biden administration regarding the health of top officials.

Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, defended the decision to withhold news of Austin's hospitalization. “This has been an evolving situation in which we had to consider a number of factors including medical and personal privacy issues,” Ryder said.

However, the Pentagon Press Association strongly criticized the delay, labeling it an "outrage" in a letter to Ryder and Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Chris Meagher. 

“The fact that he has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for four days and the Pentagon is only now alerting the public late on a Friday evening is an outrage,” the group wrote.

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about transparency within the Biden administration, with ongoing scrutiny over the handling of sensitive information and communication protocols during critical situations.

Internet reacts to Pentagon's delayed announcement of Lloyd Austin's hospitalization

Meanwhile, social media has been abuzz with reactions mocking President Biden's apparent lack of awareness regarding Austin's hospitalization.

"He never knows where he is," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"In fairness, Biden is unaware of everything that’s happening around him," another wrote.

"What is Biden aware of would be a more interesting story," someone else joked.

"I’ll venture a guess that Biden doesn’t know who Lloyd is," another quipped.

"Now you know what the U.S. Army thinks of its Commander in Chief," a comment read.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.