On Friday, one day before his 79th birthday, President Joe Biden is undergoing a colonoscopy. He arrived at the Walter Reed Hospital on Friday morning. As he will be under anesthesia, the Vice President Kamala Harris will be the acting president of the nation.
In a statement, Jen Psaki, White House press secretary said that as was the case “when President W. Bush had the same procedure in 2002 and 2007, and following the process set out in the Constitution, President Biden will transfer power to the Vice President for the brief period of time when he is under anesthesia.”
The statement also said that the Vice President would “work from her office in the West Wing during this time.”
George W. Bush was the first president to temporarily transfer presidency to vice president Dick Cheney, while under anesthesia for a colonoscopy. He did so under the 25th Amendment’s Section 3.
Former president Donald Trump also reportedly underwent a colonoscopy in 2019, according to claims made by Stephanie Grisham, who was the former First Lady’s chief of staff. However, Trump avoided anesthesia so he would not have to transfer power to Mike Pence, according to a book that she was writing.
Biden will be 79 years old on November 20. Although it is a routine surgical process, the president has faced a few mishaps after taking over the administration. He had slipped and injured his foot in late November.
Before becoming the president of the nation, he has also had a few surgeries for conditions including sinus, gall bladder and non melanoma skin cancers removal. He has also had two brain aneurysms in the eighties, one of which ruptured. Yet, he has kept his sense of humor and is often smiling and joking as he addresses the press.
Biden does not smoke. He does not drink alcohol. He exercises five times a week. He is also a regular churchgoer. According to science, all these good and clean habits lead to an increase in physical and mental wellbeing.
Source The Sun
