U.S. President Biden briefly transferred the power of the presidency to Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday morning as he underwent a routine physical.
The White House announced that Biden, 78, would be going under anesthesia to receive a colonoscopy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, making Harris the first woman to hold powers of the presidency.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki released a statement Friday morning with the announcement, stating that Harris would work from her office in the West Wing while the president was sedated.
Biden entered Walter Reed a little before 9 a.m. local time.
The White House said Biden formally submitted letters to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., president pro tempore of the Senate, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi informing them of the transfer of power at 10:10 a.m., and resumed his duties at 11:35 a.m.
According to Psaki, the president is “in good spirits” and will remain at Walter Reed as he completes the physical.
Psaki said that the White House would release a “comprehensive written summary” of Biden’s physical later Friday afternoon.
U.S. President Joe Biden will transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he is under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy he will undergo as part of his annual physical, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement https://t.co/eFKilALHwn pic.twitter.com/dqV2QzMIQa
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 19, 2021