The White House didn't know why the Pentagon did it. National Security Adviser John Kirby said at a press conference Monday that Lloyd Austin was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., after receiving word of his admission on Friday night.

Mr. Austin was admitted to the hospital on Monday, January 1, but White House National Security Council officials and President Joe Biden were not contacted for several days, and the Secretary of Defense confirmed that Mr. Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) as planned. He was also not informed of what he was reportedly staying at. Problems arising from medical practice. The Pentagon said Tuesday that Austin underwent surgery on Dec. 22 to treat prostate cancer and was hospitalized on Jan. 1 for pain from a urinary tract infection.

Kirby said that despite being informed of Austin's condition on Friday and speaking with Austin on Saturday, Biden did not inform the public about the secretary of defense's prostate cancer until Tuesday, the same day the nation was informed. He said he didn't know.

“So I think the president probably knew about Chapter 2 for five days. Austin was in the hospital, but he wasn't told. [about his diagnosis]. why? ” a reporter asked.

“He wasn't told about Section 2 until last Friday. Austin was in the hospital, but he wasn't told until this morning that the root cause of his hospitalization was prostate cancer,” Kirby said. he answered.

“Is it because the White House knew and didn't tell the president, or was it because the secretary didn't tell the president? Did Austin choose not to share it with the president?” a reporter followed up.

“No one in the White House knew about Sek. Austin had prostate cancer until this morning, and the president was informed immediately after we informed him,” Kirby responded.

Kirby added that there are several lessons to be learned from the breakdown in communication between the White House and the Pentagon over Austin's hospitalization, including early screening for prostate cancer.

Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December, the Pentagon said in a statement. When Austin underwent surgery on Dec. 22, the White House was unaware of the purpose of the surgery, Kirby said at a briefing.

According to a CNN report, the Secretary of Defense also did not notify the White House of the planned surgery on December 22nd.

President Biden learned of Secretary of Defense Austin's diagnosis today. “No one in the White House knew that Secretary Austin had prostate cancer until this morning, and the president was informed shortly thereafter,” said John Kirby.

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 9, 2024

A White House official told the Daily Caller that Biden is not considering firing Austin, despite pushback from both Republicans and Democrats. Even if Mr. Austin intended to submit his resignation, Mr. Biden would not accept it, the administration official said. politiko.

Austin issued a statement following reports that the White House had been kept in secrecy, taking responsibility for miscommunication and promising transparency going forward. The statement was issued Saturday, before the White House was notified that the defense secretary had prostate cancer. (Related: 'Dereliction of duty': Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin criticized for handling of undisclosed medical condition)

“I know we could have done a better job of making sure the public had the right information. I am committed to doing better,” Austin said in a statement. “But this is important: This is my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for any disclosure decisions.”