President Trump posted an announcement on Fact Social Sunday evening calling on Joe Biden to fireside Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin for “improper skilled conduct and dereliction of obligation.”
Austin, 70, has served as secretary of Protection for the reason that begin of the Biden administration in January, 2021. Austin has come beneath hearth after the Pentagon revealed Friday he had been secretly significantly in poor health 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 secure for now, with Biden having spoken with him by cellphone on Saturday.
Trump posted, “Failed Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin ought to be fired instantly for improper skilled conduct and dereliction of obligation. He has been lacking for one week, and no person, together with his boss, Crooked Joe Biden, had a clue as to the place he was, or is perhaps. He has carried out poorly, and may have been dismissed way back, together with “Basic” Mark Milley, for a lot of causes, however particularly the catastrophic give up in Afghanistan, maybe essentially 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 Navy Medical Middle in Bethesda, Maryland due to extreme ache according to a Pentagon statement released Sunday evening to reporters. The assertion additionally mentioned Austin was handled within the ICU and is remaining within the ICU for “privateness” although he 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 house (it isn’t identified if Austin was at house 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 Individuals’s Discussion board (@PeoplesForumNYC) December 25, 2023
At the moment Palestinian solidarity activists gathered at Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin’s house to say no Christmas for warfare 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 secure (excerpt):
…Nonetheless, Biden held a “cordial dialog” together with his protection secretary on Saturday evening, per one of many U.S. officers. “The president has full belief and confidence in Secretary Austin,” the official mentioned. A Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson echoed that sentiment, noting Biden “is wanting ahead to [Austin] getting again to the Pentagon.”
4 officers mentioned 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 word he oversaw the chaotic army withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The officers additionally famous that it was an election 12 months, that Biden and Austin are very shut as a result of former basic’s friendship with the president’s late son Beau Biden — they attended Catholic providers whereas serving in Iraq — and that it might be arduous to get one other Protection secretary confirmed by the Senate.
Sunday evening, the Washington Post also reported Austin’s job is secure (excerpt):
A senior official, who like others spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate the scenario, famous what he described as “an exceptionally shut relationship” between Austin and Biden, whose son Beau served as army lawyer beneath Austin when he was a prime commander in Iraq.
“There’s a whole lot of belief there on each side, and this episode has not diminished that belief one bit,” this particular person mentioned. “The president is wanting ahead to the secretary’s continued service.”
A White Home official mentioned Biden had “full confidence” in Austin and was wanting ahead to him being again on the Pentagon.
…If Biden himself was annoyed or involved, he took little noticeable motion because of this. 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 nicely 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 have been, what the Secretary’s present well being standing is, how and when the delegation of the Secretary’s obligations have been made, and the rationale for the delay in notification to the President and Congress.
“Transparency is vitally necessary. Sec. Austin should present these extra particulars on his well being and the decision-making course of that occurred prior to now week as quickly as doable.”
Donald Trump Jr. minimize to the guts of the matter in a Sunday afternoon put up, “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 and so they suppose they’re those in cost and don’t have to comply with the authorized 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 and so they suppose they’re those in cost and don’t have to comply with the authorized chain of command! https://t.co/D2WENRchzf
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 7, 2024
