(Washington) Joe Biden resumed his presidential duties on Friday, which he had transferred for an hour and 25 minutes to Vice President Kamala Harris, the time for anesthesia, announced the White House.
The President of the United States, who has had a “routine” colonoscopy, spoke with Kamala Harris and his chief of staff “at about 11:35 this morning. [Il] was in a good mood and returned to duty at that time, ”tweeted US executive spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
She clarified that Joe Biden remained for the moment at Walter Reed Hospital, near Washington, for the continuation of a check-up “of routine”.
The White House said he had transferred his prerogatives to the Vice President at 10:10 a.m., under the conditions provided for by the US Constitution.
PHOTO PATRICK SEMANSKY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vice President Kamala Harris
For the first time, therefore, a woman has – briefly – exercised presidential prerogatives in the United States.
Friday, the program for the president, who turns 79 on Saturday, called for him to pardon two turkeys for Thanksgiving in accordance with tradition, before leaving for the weekend.
The news promised to be dominated by a vote in Congress on a major social spending project before a terse statement from the White House spokeswoman fell at 6 a.m.
“Later in the morning the president will go to Walter Reed Medical Center for his routine annual checkup,” wrote Jen Psaki.
” Routine ”
A little later, the White House specified that the president was going to “undergo a routine colonoscopy” in this hospital very close to Washington.
This examination, intended to identify abnormalities in the colon, is part of the President’s first health check-up.
Details of this review will be released in the afternoon, Washington time, the US executive said.
“As was the case when President George W. Bush underwent the same intervention in 2002 and 2007, and in accordance with the procedure provided by the Constitution, President Biden will transfer his powers to the Vice President for a short period, while he is under anesthesia, ”added the executive.
Joe Biden relies more specifically on the 25e amendment of the US Constitution. This text provides that when the president is not “fit” to exercise his functions, he transfers his “powers and duties” to the vice-president, who exercises them until the tenant of the White House reports that he is once again in a position to assume them.
Former Donald Trump spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham implied in a recent book that the Republican billionaire also had a colonoscopy during his tenure, but kept the procedure a secret.
Transparency
Mr Biden, who does not smoke or drink, is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and received his third dose in late September.
The oldest president in the history of the United States, he has made it known publicly that he intends to run for re-election in 2024.
His age, however, is fueling speculation that he might give up.
This medical examination was eagerly awaited by the American press.
Joe Biden has promised the greatest transparency about his state of health, while some supporters of Donald Trump do not lose any opportunity to question publicly, in a more or less roundabout way, about his physical health and his lucidity.
The Democrat had been declared “in good health” and “vigorous” by his doctor at the end of 2019, when he was a candidate for the primary of his party.
However, he experienced a serious health alert in 1988. Urgently transported to hospital after a ruptured aneurysm, a priest had been called to give him the last rites.
If Joe Biden did not stand for re-election, Kamala Harris, 57, would be seen as a natural candidate for the Democratic camp, although so far most observers have a mixed record of her tenure as vice president.