President Joe Biden on Friday, November 19 briefly transfered power to Vice President Kamala Harris when he underwent a “routine colonoscopy” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
According to the White House, Biden drove early Friday to the medical centre located in Washington’s suburbs at around 8:00 am for his first routine physical exam as president.
Press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would be under anaesthesia during the procedure and would transfer power to Harris.
Biden then resumed his duties as commander in chief just before noon.
The president sent a formal letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Patrick Leahy, notifying them that he had resumed duties upon regaining consciousness.
According to the U.S. Constitution, whenever the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties are discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.
Harris, during her acting role, was spotted arriving at the White House on Friday morning.
She later departed for Washington for Columbus, Ohio, Friday afternoon to represent Biden at an infrastructure event.
