Biden Among The Last To Know Pentagon Chief Diagnosed With Cancer

Lloyd Austin's deputy was also unaware of the diagnosis.

US President Joe Biden only learned yesterday, 9 January, that his defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

This was reported by the White House minutes after the illness became public knowledge, writes Reuters.

"He (Biden - ed.) was only informed last (Thursday - ed.) day that Secretary Austin was in the hospital. Only this morning was he informed that the primary reason for the hospitalisation was prostate cancer," said White House National Security Council coordinator John Kirby.

At the same time, it emerged that Lloyd Austin's deputy, Kathleen Hicks, was also unaware of the details of his illness, even after she was ordered to take over some of his duties on 2 January.

Lloyd Austin, 70, has been hospitalised at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre since 1 January. The Pentagon kept this from the public, the White House and Congress for most of last week.

On 9 January, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center announced that US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin was being treated for prostate cancer. It had been diagnosed at an early stage.