U.S. President Joe Biden has resumed his presidential duties after temporarily transferring power to Vice President Kamala Harris for 85 minutes, while he underwent anesthesia for a colonoscopy on Friday.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Vice President Kamala Harris was in charge of the country for the brief period on Friday, making history as the first woman to act as U.S. President.
Biden’s colonoscopy was part of his annual physical examination.
Biden relinquished power at 10:10 a.m. Washington time, leaving Harris in charge of the country for one hour and 25 minutes.
He took power back at 11:35 a.m., after speaking with Harris and White House chief of staff Ron Klain.
‘.@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,’ White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter.
The White House said Harris worked out of her office in the West Wing, meaning she was not in the Oval Office as she assumes presidential power.
Harris, the first female and first black vice presidential, has now added to her strings of milestones, making history for holding presidential power.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends regular screenings for colon cancer starting at age 45. A colonoscopy can last about an hour.
George W. Bush was the last president to undergo a colonoscopy with anesthesia while in office. And he transferred power to then Vice President Cheney in both 2002 and 2007 when he under went the procedure.
