Joe Biden transferred his powers for just under an hour and a half to Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday, sedated time for a colonoscopy. It is the first time in history that a woman has held presidential powers.

The President of the United States, who underwent a “routine” colonoscopy, spoke with Kamala Harris and his chief of staff at approximately 11:35 this morning (5:35 p.m. in Switzerland). (He was) in a good mood and had resumed his duties at that time,” US spokeswoman Jen Psaki tweeted.

She said that Joe Biden is currently staying at Walter Reed Hospital near Washington for a “routine” examination.

The White House explained that it transferred its powers to the Vice President at 4:10 pm (Switzerland) according to the terms stipulated in the US Constitution. So for the first time, a woman – for a brief period – exercised presidential powers in the United States.

Friday, the president’s program, which turns 79 on Saturday, called for a Thanksgiving turkey to be pardoned according to tradition, before leaving for the weekend. But at 6 a.m., a brief statement from the White House spokeswoman announced that the president would go to the hospital shortly thereafter for a medical exam.

“pattern”

The White House has specified that the president “will undergo a routine colon exam” at this hospital near Washington. This examination, which aims to identify abnormalities in the colon, is part of the President’s First Health Examination.

“As was the case when President George W. Bush underwent the same intervention in 2002 and 2007, and in accordance with procedures set forth in the Constitution, President Biden will transfer his powers to the Vice President for a short period, while he is under his sedation.”

Joe Biden relies more specifically on the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution. This provision states that when the president is not “fit” to exercise his duties, he transfers his “powers and duties” to the vice president, who exercises them until the tenant in the White House informs that he is able to take them up again. .

Former Donald Trump spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham noted in a recent book that the billionaire Republican also underwent a colonoscopy during his tenure, but kept the procedure a secret.

Transparency

Mr Biden, who does not smoke or drink, was fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and received his third dose at the end of September. The oldest president in US history, has publicly announced that he intends to run for re-election in 2024. However, his age is fueling speculation that he may give up.

This medical examination was eagerly awaited by the American press.

Joe Biden has promised the greatest transparency about his health, while some Donald Trump supporters miss no opportunity to publicly question, in a somewhat devious way, his physical health and clarity.

The Democrat was declared “healthy” and “strong” by his doctor at the end of 2019, when he was a candidate for his party’s primary.

However, he experienced a serious health alert in 1988. He was urgently taken to hospital after an aneurysm ruptured, and a priest was called in to give him the last rites.

If Joe Biden does not run for re-election, Kamala Harris, 57, will be seen as a natural candidate for the Democratic camp, although so far most observers have a mixed record in her tenure as vice president.

This article was published automatically. Sources: ats / afp