The American press was alarmed by the hospitalization of the head of the Pentagon

An American journalist called for attention to the hospitalization of the head of the US Department of Defense

Photo: Global Look Press

US journalist and Newsmax TV presenter Todd Starnes called for attention to the hospitalization of the head of the US Department of Defense.

Earlier, the Pentagon announced that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center due to complications from a recent elective medical procedure. It is clarified that the head of the Pentagon was taken to a medical facility on the evening of January 1. Why information about this is published so late is not reported. The planned procedure that Austin had to undergo was also not named.

“The Pentagon kept this information secret until late Friday evening. Why such secrecy? – the journalist wrote on social networks.

The Pentagon reported that the head of the defense department is recovering quickly and is ready to return to full duties on Saturday, January 6. The Pentagon also said that the Deputy Secretary of Defense is always ready to exercise the powers of the Minister if necessary. However, the Department of Defense declined to say whether Austin was unconscious during hospitalization or in critical condition.

The CNN story notes that the military's failure to publicly report Austin's hospitalization in a timely manner sets an unpleasant precedent. In 2021, when President Joe Biden needed to undergo surgery under anesthesia, it was announced in advance that he would briefly hand over power to Kamala Harris. Austin's strange hospitalization, according to CNN, comes at a time when the United States faces a number of challenges in protecting US national security interests abroad.