US President Joe Biden briefly handed over his authority to his deputy Kamala Harris on Friday. This was the first time that a woman was at the helm of the state in the USA – if only for around 85 minutes. According to the White House, the reason for the temporary transfer of power was a colonoscopy under general anesthesia. Biden called Harris afterwards and was in good spirits, said his spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Twitter on Friday.
The White House said it was a scheduled routine check-up at Walter Reed Military Hospital near Washington. There should be a statement on Biden’s general state of health on Friday afternoon (local time). Biden celebrates his 79th birthday this Saturday.
In accordance with the constitutional rule, Biden informed the chairman of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, and the incumbent Senate President, Patrick Lehy, in writing about the surrender and the subsequent resumption of authority.
The White House emphasized that the authority of the then President George W. Bush was also briefly transferred to the Vice President for preventive medical checkups with anesthesia in 2002 and 2007. Harris wanted to work in her office in the west wing of the White House during the time as acting president. This is also where the US President’s office, the so-called Oval Office, is located.
Around noon on Friday (local time), Harris flew to the state of Ohio for an appointment as planned. Biden, on the other hand, wanted to fly to his home state of Delaware for the weekend that evening.
It is routine for US presidents to have a check-up at Walter Reed Hospital at least once a year. As a rule, more or less detailed information on the state of health of the President is also published afterwards.
Source From: Nachrichten
