The White House: Austin performs his duties from the hospital, and there are no plans to fire him

White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby announced that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is fully performing his duties while he is in the hospital, and there are no plans to fire him. 

The White House: Austin performs his duties from the hospital, and there are no plans to fire him

The US Secretary of Defense comments on his health condition days after being admitted to the hospital

Trump calls for the dismissal of the US Secretary of Defense due to his hospitalization without announcing it

Kirby told reporters on Monday: “He continues to carry out his duties to the fullest, and does everything he does in normal times, but from the hospital.”

According to him, the Ministry of Defense is only focused on Austin's health and ensuring that he gets all the necessary assistance.

Kirby added that US President Joe Biden looks forward to Austin's return to the Pentagon, while respecting his responsibility for not reporting the situation quickly enough.

Last week, American media revealed that the Pentagon kept information related to Austin's stay secret from the White House for three days in the hospital.

The US Secretary of Defense was admitted to the hospital on January 1 due to complications following a routine medical procedure.

Austin later confirmed that he was on the mend , and also admitted that the public could have been better informed of the health problems.

Austin is 70 years old and has headed the Pentagon since January 2021.

Trump: Corrupt Joe Biden should face trial

Former US President Donald Trump said that the criminal prosecution against him opened a "giant Pandora's box," indicating that current President Joe Biden may also face charges if he is deprived of immunity.

“If I am not immune [from prosecution], then corrupt Joe Biden will not be immune,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “The [migrant] incursion across the border and the surrender of Afghanistan alone will be enough to indict Joe.” "Not to mention the millions of dollars in foreign money he had in his pockets. By using the Department of Justice as a weapon against his political opponent, (against me), Joe opened a giant Pandora's box*."

The US Supreme Court has previously refused to urgently consider the issue of whether the former head of the Washington administration enjoys immunity from legal prosecution, and this means that the trial related to the storming of the Capitol building and Trump’s alleged attempt to maintain power despite his loss in the elections may continue. 

According to leading American media estimates, this will give Trump the opportunity to pardon himself if he wins the presidential elections that will be held in the United States in November 2024.

On January 6, 2021, supporters of then US President Trump stormed the Congress building to prevent the certification of the results of the presidential elections held in November 2020 in the country, which were won by Democrat Biden.

During the riot inside the building, police shot and killed a protester, and several other unrelated deaths were recorded and classified as medical emergencies. A Capitol Police officer also died after the clashes.

US Special Prosecutor Jack Smith announced in August that he had indicted Trump on four counts. He is, in fact, accused of trying to illegally retain power despite his defeat in the 2020 elections. The maximum penalty for the most serious crimes against Trump is 20 years in prison.