After fuss about hospital stay: American Defense Minister makes cancer public Macron appoints Gabriel Attal (34) as new French Prime Minister

After days of doubt about his health, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has revealed he has prostate cancer. The disease was recognized early and the prognosis for recovery was “excellent”, the responsible clinic near the capital Washington announced on Tuesday. Due to complications after an operation at the end of December, the 70-year-old has had to be treated in hospital since the beginning of this year.

The hospitalization caused a stir because the ministry initially did not make it public. US President Joe Biden did not know it initially either. It is common in the United States for the public to be very well informed about the health of its top politicians.

Austin apologized for the information policy on Saturday evening. In the US, the question arose as to who would actually have authority in the Pentagon amid international crises such as the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the tense situation in the Middle East if the Minister of Defense were absent. The Pentagon therefore came under heavy criticism. In recent days, it has not provided any information about why Austin was being treated in the hospital and has been quite cryptic.

Now, a detailed statement from Walter Reed Military Hospital in Bethesda said Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early December. Shortly before Christmas, the head of the Pentagon underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The minister “recovered easily from the operation and returned home the next morning,” the report said.

On New Year’s Day, the minister was taken to hospital due to complications, including nausea and severe stomach, hip and leg pain. An initial examination revealed that there was a urinary tract infection. On January 2, he was transferred to intensive care. According to the clinic, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity caused problems. The infection has now disappeared. Austin is making progress and “a full recovery” is expected, but this could be a long process. “During this stay, Secretary Austin never lost consciousness or was subjected to general anesthesia,” the hospital said.

The White House responded irritated to the news on Tuesday. US President Biden only learned of his minister’s cancer diagnosis in the morning, a few hours before the public. “This is not the way this should be done,” said John Kirby, director of communications for the National Security Council. That is why Biden wants the procedures for such cases within the government to be revised. A corresponding letter has been sent to the ministries.

We must learn from this incident, Kirby warned. As a cabinet member, everyone knows that the office has an obligation to be as transparent as possible. Biden now wishes Austin a speedy recovery. Asked if Biden plans to remain in Austin until the end of his term early next year, Kirby said: “Yes.”

Austin has been a member of Biden’s Cabinet since the start of Biden’s term in early 2021. He is the first black person to lead the Pentagon. The former four-star general served as commander of US forces stationed in the Middle East until 2016. In this position he was responsible for US operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. At the beginning of his more than 40-year career in the U.S. Army, Austin was also stationed in Germany.

(sda/dpa)