Kamala Harris Becomes First US Female Acting President For 85 Minutes
Image via the The White House
Last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris became the nation’s first female, Black, and South Asian acting president for over an hour—while President Joe Biden underwent anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy.
According to CNN, Biden visited Walter Reed Medical Center to receive his first annual physical since taking over at the helm. In accordance with the nation’s regulations, a vice president is required to take over the presidential powers while the president is sedated.
This isn’t the first time such a change in power has occurred, as then-Vice President Dick Cheney did the same under former President George W Bush’s tenure.
In order to officially transfer the presidential powers, Biden sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Patrick Leahy, to inform them of the switch before going through the procedure.
“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 procedure and recovery,” the letter read.
Following the procedure, a separate letter was sent to transfer the presidential powers back to Biden.
The second letter said: “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.”
[via CNN, cover image via The White House]
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