President Trump posted an announcement on Fact Social Sunday evening calling on Joe Biden to fireside Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin for “improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty.”
Austin, 70, has served as secretary of Protection for the reason that begin of the Biden administration in January, 2021. Austin has come below hearth after the Pentagon revealed Friday he had been secretly severely ailing in an ICU since Monday with out informing Joe Biden, White Home employees or Congress for 3 or 4 days, respectively.
Austin’s job is reportedly protected for now, with Biden having spoken with him by cellphone on Saturday.
Trump posted, “Failed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin should be fired immediately for improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty. He has been missing for one week, and nobody, including his boss, Crooked Joe Biden, had a clue as to where he was, or might be. He has performed poorly, and should have been dismissed long ago, along with “General” Mark Milley, for a lot of causes, however specifically the catastrophic give up in Afghanistan, maybe probably the most embarrassing second within the historical past of our Nation!”
Austin had an elective medical process on December 22 and was taken to the Walter Reed Nationwide Army Medical Middle in Bethesda, Maryland due to extreme ache according to a Pentagon statement released Sunday evening to reporters. The assertion additionally stated Austin was handled within the ICU and is remaining within the ICU for “privacy” regardless that he now not wants that degree of care.
Three days after his December twenty second medical process, pro-Hamas protesters staged a daybreak protest on Christmas Day at Austin’s Falls Church, Virginia residence (it isn’t identified if Austin was at residence then):
🚨BREAKING! Activists ship Xmas morning wake-up name to US Secretary of Protection, @SecDef Lloyd Austin, chanting “AUSTIN, AUSTIN, RISE AND SHINE, NO SLEEP DURING GENOCIDE!” #FreePalestine #ShutItDown4Palestine pic.twitter.com/0Yg9SCFbok
— The Folks’s Discussion board (@PeoplesForumNYC) December 25, 2023
At this time Palestinian solidarity activists gathered at Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin’s residence to say no Christmas for struggle criminals! pic.twitter.com/vSovmBnqEp
— DC Younger Communist League (@DC_YCL) December 25, 2023
Politico reported on Biden’s cellphone name with Austin and why his job is taken into account protected (excerpt):
…Nonetheless, Biden held a “cordial conversation” along with his protection secretary on Saturday evening, per one of many U.S. officers. “The president has complete trust and confidence in Secretary Austin,” the official stated. A Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson echoed that sentiment, noting Biden “is looking forward to [Austin] getting back to the Pentagon.”
4 officers stated Austin’s job appeared safe for the second, particularly after the cellphone name with Biden. They argued that it was a uncommon blemish in an in any other case robust tenure, particularly cajoling Western nations to ship superior weapons to Ukraine, although Austin critics observe he oversaw the chaotic navy withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The officers additionally famous that it was an election yr, that Biden and Austin are very shut because of the former basic’s friendship with the president’s late son Beau Biden — they attended Catholic companies whereas serving in Iraq — and that it might be exhausting to get one other Protection secretary confirmed by the Senate.
Sunday evening, the Washington Post also reported Austin’s job is protected (excerpt):
A senior official, who like others spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate the state of affairs, famous what he described as “an exceptionally close relationship” between Austin and Biden, whose son Beau served as navy lawyer below Austin when he was a prime commander in Iraq.
“There’s a lot of trust there on both sides, and this episode has not diminished that trust one bit,” this individual stated. “The president is looking forward to the secretary’s continued service.”
A White Home official stated Biden had “full confidence” in Austin and was trying ahead to him being again on the Pentagon.
…If Biden himself was annoyed or involved, he took little noticeable motion consequently. On the night of Jan. 6, after information of Austin’s situation was made public and consternation unfold across the capital, Biden spoke by cellphone with Austin in what officers described as a heat dialog and the president wished him properly in his restoration.
Biden has additionally lengthy felt a way of loyalty to Austin. After Austin’s return from Iraq, the place he attended Catholic Mass with Beau Biden, he and the youthful Biden stayed in contact.
The Home Armed Companies Committee issued a ‘sternly worded’ joint statement on Sunday by Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Rating Member Adam Smith (D-WA):
U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Adam Smith (D-WA), Chairman and Rating Member of the Home Armed Companies Committee, issued the next assertion relating to the notification of Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III’s current hospitalization.
“Whereas we want Sec. Austin a speedy restoration, we’re involved with how the disclosure of the Secretary’s situation was dealt with. A number of questions stay unanswered together with what the medical process and ensuing problems had been, what the Secretary’s present well being standing is, how and when the delegation of the Secretary’s obligations had been made, and the rationale for the delay in notification to the President and Congress.
“Transparency is vitally important. Sec. Austin must provide these additional details on his health and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week as soon as possible.”
Donald Trump Jr. reduce to the center of the matter in a Sunday afternoon submit, “The deep state doesn’t bother telling Biden that his Secretary of Defense was hospitalized and out of commission for 4 days because they know he can’t comprehend what that means anyway and they think they’re the ones in charge and don’t need to follow the legal chain of command!”
The deep state doesn’t hassle telling Biden that his Secretary of Protection was hospitalized and out of fee for 4 days as a result of they know he can’t comprehend what which means anyway they usually suppose they’re those in cost and don’t must comply with the authorized chain of command! https://t.co/D2WENRchzf
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 7, 2024
