US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has admitted he “did not handle this right” and should have told President Biden and the public about his prostate cancer diagnosis.

However, he said he didn’t order his staff to hide his condition.

“We did not handle this right and I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I take full responsibility,” Mr Austin said.

The defence secretary was diagnosed in early December, had surgery on 22 December, but did not tell the president and other senior figures until days after complications forced him into intensive care on 1 January.

Mr Austin was speaking in his first media conference since his diagnosis.

His slow disclosure of his condition has prompted an internal Pentagon review and an inspector general review into his department’s notification processes.

Mr Austin was taken to hospital by ambulance with severe pain 10 days after his surgery.

It emerged one of his staff asked paramedics not to use lights and sirens when collecting him from Virginia home.

The 70-year-old passed decision-making authority to deputy defence secretary Kathleen Hicks, but did inform her why.

Mr Austin is just below the president in the military chain of command and is required to be available at a moment’s notice to respond to any national security crisis.

“I never directed anyone to keep my January hospitalisation from the White House,” he told reporters on Thursday.

President Biden previously said it was poor judgement from Mr Austin not to tell him he was in intensive care.

However, he said he still had confidence in him.

The defence secretary worked from home for two weeks after being discharged on 15 January and returned to the Pentagon on Monday.

Related posts:

Brazil’s top court allows Copa America to go ahead despite COVID It’s all over – Italy beat England on penalties in nail-biting Euro 2020 final Biden has no regrets over Afghan withdrawal as three more provinces fall to Taliban British girl, five, dies after being struck by skier in French Alps, according to reports Prince Charlene of Monaco discusses marriage and health in rare interview This tiny Irish hamlet, proudly associated with the sound of music, has been left in ‘terrible silence Irish premier says ‘entire nation is mourning’ the victims of petrol station explosion Girl, 5, and her father killed in petrol station blast – as all 10 victims named Dani Alves arrested in Spain over alleged nightclub sexual assault Would Israel attack Iran – and what would the risks be in the Middle East and beyond? Trapped British family heard dog ‘burn to death’ after Hamas militants set fire to Israel home International rugby player jailed for sexual offences