Haley wants Biden 'fired' over Austin disappearance

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Monday excoriated President Joe Biden over Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's undisclosed hospitalization over much of last week, insisting that ongoing conflicts on the world stage necessitated daily contact between the president and Pentagon chief.

Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for much of last week due to complications from a surgery, which both Biden and Austin's deputy reportedly did not know. The communications breakdown has prompted a chorus of Republican criticism, including calls for Austin's resignation or impeachment.

Haley, for her part, took things a step farther at town hall in Iowa, saying "I think Biden should be fired. This is unbelievable that we have a situation like this," she said at the Fox News event, moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

She further highlighted the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, before noting bellicose actions from North Korea and China. Haley then asserted that the geopolitical situation necessitated regular contact between Biden and Austin.

"We have a war in Europe, we have a war in the Middle East. North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States," she added. "China is on the march. First, I have a problem with the fact that Biden is not talking to his secretary of Defense every single day anyway."

"But the biggest one that bothers me, when I was at the U.N., we knew the intel. We knew the health of everybody in every country," Haley went on. "They know what's happening to Secretary Austin. What bothers me is while our adversaries may know, our own president doesn't know. And these things continue to happen and it's why I say the one thing that keeps me up at night is what happens between now and Election Day. Because Biden is making America very vulnerable and putting us at risk."

Haley's comments come amid reports that Montana GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Austin on Tuesday.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.