U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, 70, has made his first public appearance since his secret hospitalization, appearing virtually from home during a meeting on Ukraine’s military needs on Tuesday.
Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland on Dec. 22 initially to treat prostate cancer. However, he returned to the hospital on Jan. 1 due to complications, including a urinary tract infection. His hospitalization was not revealed until four days later, and the Pentagon did not specify why he was being treated until Jan. 9.
Austin’s failure to inform President Joe Biden about his hospitalization drew criticism from lawmakers and caught the White House by surprise.
Austin appeared on the live stream for a few minutes as he made his opening remarks. He was sitting in front of a white wall, with what appeared to be a security system keypad on his left and a Department of Defense seal on the right, with a small U.S. and Ukrainian flag on top of a printer next to it.
While there was a slight break in the live stream, Austin did not appear to mention his health, but called for additional air defense systems for Ukraine.
He is not expected to take part in a joint press conference with the top U.S. general after the meeting, something that has become routine after such gatherings.
Reported by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Edited by Mark Porter
