Biden health: President to transfer power to Vice Kamala Harris for medical procedure

US President Joe Biden speaking at the Leaders' Action on Forests and Land-use event during the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow.
US President Joe Biden speaking at the Leaders' Action on Forests and Land-use event during the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow.
Paul Ellis
Max Parry

By Max Parry


Published: 19/11/2021

- 14:45

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 11:54

President Biden, 78, will undergo a 'routine colonoscopy' at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre

President Joe Biden will briefly transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday when he undergoes a “routine colonoscopy” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, the White House said.

Mr Biden drove early Friday to the medical centre in the Washington suburbs for his first routine physical exam as president.


Press secretary Jen Psaki said Mr Biden would be under anaesthesia during the procedure and would transfer power to Ms Harris.

“As was the case when President George 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 anaesthesia,” she said.

“The Vice President will work from her office in the West Wing during this time.”

You may like