Joe Biden contines to have 'complete confidence' in Austin, White House says

President Joe Biden continues to have "complete confidence" in Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday, amid lawmakers' questions about the Pentagon chief's failure to disclose a hospitalization for days.

Austin, who sits just below Biden at the top of the chain of command of the U.S. military, withheld his hospitalization on New Year's Day from the president and the public for days.

"The president has complete confidence, continues to have confidence in Secretary Austin," Jean-Pierre told reporters as Biden traveled to South Carolina. She said Biden spoke with Austin on Saturday and appreciated him taking "full responsibility" for not informing the White House about his hospitalization.