Austin received an elective procedure on Dec. 22, which led to complications that required him to be taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's intensive care unit on New Year's Day.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is hospitalized after concealing his condition from President Biden and White House officials for at least three days.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who remains hospitalized after concealing his condition from President Biden and White House officials for at least three days, owes the public more answers about his health. That includes the nature of the elective procedure he received on Dec. 22 and the complications that led to him being taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's intensive care unit on New Year's Day.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is hospitalized after concealing his condition from President Biden and White House officials for at least three days.
The public timeline that the Pentagon has so far released is unsettlingly vague: The secretary was experiencing 'severe pain', but no plausible explanation for the lack of transparency with which all of the above proceeded in real time.
Accuracy
The White House said President Biden has full trust in Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Former President Trump called for Austin's resignation or firing on Sunday.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article implies that Lloyd Austin has resigned or been fired when he hasn't. Secondly, Emma Colton claims that President Biden has full trust and confidence in Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin despite evidence to the contrary such as his hospitalization for an undisclosed illness without prior notice to anyone including his boss. Thirdly, the article quotes several politicians calling for Austin's resignation but fails to mention any calls from Democrats or those who support him. Lastly, the article presents a one-sided view of events and ignores other perspectives such as that of Lloyd Austin himself.
Emma Colton claims President Biden has full trust in Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin despite evidence to the contrary such as his hospitalization for an undisclosed illness without prior notice to anyone including his boss.
The title implies that Lloyd Austin has resigned when he hasn't.
Fallacies
(80%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it quotes former President Trump stating that Austin should be fired immediately for improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the situation as a 'shocking breakdown' in duties and communication, which is not supported by evidence presented in the article.
]The media was alerted on Friday by the Pentagon that Austin was hospitalized the evening of Jan. 1, and remains under the care of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Details surrounding Austin’s medical condition remain unclear, with officials only detailing that he underwent an elective medical procedure last month, and was hospitalized in the days following.
Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton said "there must be consequences for this shocking breakdown" in duties and communication.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a clear example of political bias. The author uses inflammatory language to portray the Republican calls for Austin's resignation as an attack on his character and professionalism. This is evident in phrases such as 'improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty', which are loaded with negative connotations.
He has been a disaster since Day One
The secretary of defense is the key link in the chain of command between the president and the uniformed military, including the nuclear chain of command, when the weightiest of decisions must be made in minutes.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Emma Colton has a conflict of interest on the topic of Lloyd Austin's resignation as Secretary of Defense. She is married to former White House press secretary Jen Psaki who was close friends with Lloyd Austin and worked closely with him during his tenure at the Pentagon.
During her time at the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin worked closely with Jen Psaki on several high-profile issues.
Emma Colton, a Fox News correspondent, has been covering the Biden administration since its inception. Her husband, Jen Psaki, served as White House press secretary under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2023 and was close friends with Lloyd Austin.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Emma Colton has a conflict of interest on the topic of Lloyd Austin's resignation as Secretary of Defense. She is an author for Fox News and her article discusses GOP calls for Sec Austin to resign after his mystery ailment and hospitalization.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is hospitalized after concealing his condition from President Biden and White House officials for at least three days.
The public timeline that the Pentagon has so far released is unsettlingly vague: The secretary was experiencing 'severe pain', but no plausible explanation for the lack of transparency with which all of the above proceeded in real time.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff found out about Mr. Austin's hospitalization on Jan. 2 but the White House was kept in the dark for an additional 48 hours, until the afternoon of Jan. 4.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff found out about Mr. Austin's hospitalization on Jan. 2
but the White House was kept in the dark for an additional 48 hours
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the idea that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has not been transparent about his health and that there are questions surrounding why he was hospitalized for three days without anyone knowing. The author uses language such as 'severe pain' to make it seem like Mr. Austin's condition is more serious than what the Pentagon has stated, which could be seen as an attempt to sensationalize the situation. Additionally, there are examples of bias in terms of how the article portrays certain individuals and their actions.
The author uses language such as 'penchant for secrecy' to make it seem like Mr. Austin has a negative attitude towards public engagement more broadly
The author uses language such as 'severe pain' to make it seem like Mr. Austin's condition is more serious than what the Pentagon has stated
The fact that no one in the White House appears to have noticed the secretary’s absence for several days amid heated conflicts in the Middle East and in Ukraine is another riddle — and unfortunately implies Mr. Austin, though an able man, is not as central to national security decision-making as his counterparts
President Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after he was hospitalized for days without the White House being informed
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent an elective surgical procedure on Dec. 22 and was admitted to intensive care on New Year's Day due to severe pain
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown was informed that Austin was in the hospital on Jan. 2 but did not inform the White House
Former President Trump called for Austin's resignation or firing on Sunday.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is hospitalized after concealing his condition from President Biden and White House officials for at least three days.
Accuracy
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent an elective surgical procedure on Dec. 22 and was admitted to intensive care on New Year's Day due to severe pain, but neither his deputy nor the White House were informed of his condition at that time.
Former President Trump called for Lloyd Austin's resignation or firing on Sunday.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that President Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when in fact it states later on that he has no intention of removing him from his position. Secondly, the author's statement about Mr. Biden being informed only after Austin was admitted to intensive care contradicts what was reported earlier in the article and therefore cannot be trusted as a reliable source. Thirdly, there is no disclosure or quote from any sources regarding Austin's hospitalization which raises questions about their credibility.
There is no disclosure or quote from any sources regarding Austin's hospitalization which raises questions about their credibility.
The author's statement about Mr. Biden being informed only after Austin was admitted to intensive care contradicts what was reported earlier in the article and therefore cannot be trusted as a reliable source.
The title implies that President Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin when in fact it states later on that he has no intention of removing him from his position.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an example of a fallacy known as 'appeals to authority'. The author cites the statement of Lloyd Austin that he recognizes he could have done better in ensuring the public was appropriately informed. However, this is not evidence that Austin committed any wrongdoing or made any mistakes. It is simply his own admission and does not provide objective proof of anything.
Lloyd has now resumed his full duties.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a statement from the White House official that President Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after he failed to report his hospitalization for days. The author also mentions that Mr. Biden was left in the dark about his condition and did not inform him until several days later, which could be seen as an example of poor communication or lack of transparency from the Pentagon officials.
President Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after he failed to report his hospitalization for days.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has conflicts of interest on the topics of Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The article does not disclose these conflicts.
