Kamala Harris Becomes First Woman With U.S. Presidential Power
On Friday (November 19), President Joe Biden temporarily transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris while he was under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy for 85 minutes.
The historic event made VP Harris the first woman, first Black person as well as the first South Asian to occupy the powers of the U.S. presidency. During that time, she worked from her office in the West Wing while Biden underwent the medical procedure, said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, according to CNN.
"@POTUS spoke with @VP and @WHCOS at approximately 11:35am this morning. @POTUS was in good spirits and at that time resumed his duties. He will remain at Walter Reed as he completes the rest of his routine physical," Psaki tweeted.
Biden arrived at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday morning to undergo his first routine annual physical since taking office.
It is standard procedure for the vice president to assume presidential powers while the president undergoes a medical procedure that requires anesthesia.
A letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont reading: "Today I will undergo a routine medical procedure requiring sedation. In view of present circumstances, I have determined to transfer temporarily the powers and duties of the office of President of the United States to the Vice President during the brief period of the procedure and recovery."
In order to transfer the powers back to Biden, a separate letter was sent post procedure.
"In accordance with the provisions of section 3 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, I hereby transmit to you my written declaration that I am able to discharge the powers and duties of the Office of the President of the United States and that I am resuming those powers and duties," the letter reads.
