Karine Jean-Pierre, John Kirby, and Lloyd Austin

AP Picture/Susan Walsh; AP Photograph/Evan Vucci; AP Photograph/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Coordinator for Strategic Communications for the National Security Advice John Kirby bought a barrage of questions about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s clinical absence on Monday, but reiterated that his job is safe.

Austin didn’t disclose that he used to be present process minor optionally available surgical operation sooner than the new yr, then spent a number of days within the health center after experiencing complications and convalescing in intensive care. For days, no person — including President Joe Biden — knew where Austin was, and lots of are now anxious answers as to why nobody used to be knowledgeable of the whereabouts of the U.S. Secretary of Safety and if President Joe Biden would fire him.

Journalists on board Air Drive One for the White Home press gaggle with Jean-Pierre and Kirby were among them, and both have been hit with questions about Austin. The primary query to Kirby asked about “the extent of frustration at the NSC,” and “will there be any consequences for that?”

Kirby answered that the “major center of attention presently is on Secretary Austin’s health. And to ensure that he gets all the care and helps that he wants to totally get well.” He also said that Austin has resumed a few of his tasks while he is nonetheless in the medical institution. But there were nonetheless questions as as to if Austin would have the ability to keep his job:

Q: There are some calls for him to be fired. Is that one thing that the president is wanting or considering doing?

Kirby: The president’s number one center of attention is on his well being and recovery, and he seems ahead to having him again at the Pentagon as soon as that you can imagine. The president respects the truth that Secretary Austin took possession for the shortage of transparency. He also respects the wonderful job he’s accomplished as defense secretary and the way he’s treated multiple crises during the last, almost three years now. Um, and, uh, very a lot valued his recommendation, candor, management. Uh, and again, looks ahead to having him back at the Pentagon quickly.

Q: Does the president comprehend what non-compulsory surgery the secretary had, even if the American people don’t understand? And does he know what his current symptoms are and his present health condition is?

Kirby: I know that the president had an opportunity to speak to Secretary Austin a couple of days in the past and want him well… I don’t understand the level of the president’s personal knowledge of his scientific situation, and that might in point of fact be between the two males. Uh, your your question about that non-obligatory procedure is in point of fact better directed to the Pentagon, now not, uh, not to us.

I need to make sure that I put a fork in my answer to you. There’s no, uh, no plans for anything instead of for Secretary Austin to remain in the job and continue within the management that he’s been, that he’s been demonstrating.

Then the questions became to transparency on the White House, so Jean-Pierre stepped in:

Jean-Pierre: The president has always put transparency at the heart of his administration from the beginning. And obviously that’s what we’re going to continue to do. So we’re going to proceed to be transparent. Obviously Division of Safeguard will have extra about, extra to talk to about their protocol. Uh, I simply don’t have anything else so as to add particularly on that.

Q: Do you assume you had been transparent right here, although? I mean, it took days for this, for folks to be told about this at a time of, you know, struggle around the world.

Kirby: The Pentagon has mentioned this. The Secretary put out a statement, took accountability for the shortage of transparency. We’ll let the Pentagon talk to the method.

Hearken to the whole briefing by the use of the White Home on YouTube.

The submit Newshounds Grill Kirby and Jean-Pierre About Lloyd Austin’s Undisclosed Absence first appeared on Mediaite.