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Kamala Harris To Take Power As Biden Undergoes Colonoscopy

   DailyWire.com
US President Joe Biden listens during a bilateral meeting with Mexico's President Manuel Lopez Obrador in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on November 18, 2021. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

As President Joe Biden underwent a colonoscopy as part of a physical exam, presidential powers temporarily shifted over to Vice President Kamala Harris, as Biden was under anaesthesia.

“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,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. “The Vice President will work from her office in the West Wing during this time.” 

The 78-year-old president had the colonoscopy as part of his physical exam on Friday ahead of his birthday on Saturday. Biden is the oldest president in American history. 

After the procedure was over, Psaki tweeted that Biden “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.”

Throughout his presidency, Biden critics have raised concerns about the his age. According to one recent poll conducted by Fox News of voters, over half of respondents “believe his age is affecting his work.”

As Psaki mentioned, a similar process took place during the George W. Bush administration when Vice President Dick Cheney held presidential power during Bush’s colonoscopy procedures. 

According to some reports, the temporary transfer of power did not happen during the Trump administration when former President Trump underwent a colonoscopy; he reportedly maintained presidential powers as he did not undergo anaesthesia. 

“In 2019, the Trump White House handled the same procedure very differently, according to former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham,” Business Insider reported,  “In her recent memoir, Grisham wrote that when Trump had to go in for a colonoscopy, he kept it secret from the public  and reportedly refused anesthesia so he wouldn’t have to transfer power to former Vice President Mike Pence.”

Harris’ brief assumption of presidential power came as reports have circulated that her team has become frustrated with her role in the Biden administration. 

“Many current and former West Wing aides say that Vice President Kamala Harris is not being adequately prepared or positioned, and instead is being sidelined, causing frustration among staffers,” CNN reported.

Despite these reports, the White House has publicly voiced their support for Harris with Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeting that Harris is “a bold leader who has taken on key, important challenges facing the country.”

Some have even mentioned the possibility of her being appointed to a Supreme Court seat, though these rumors have yet to be confirmed. 

The Daily Wire reported on Thursday, “The communications director for Vice President Kamala Harris has handed in her resignation as the VP takes a nosedive in approval polling and rumors swirl about an apparent rift with President Joe Biden.” 

In one recent poll, the Vice President  sat at a mere 28% approval rating.

A White House official confirmed that the communications director was leaving noting that she “is a valued member of the vice president’s team, who has worked tirelessly to advance the goals of this administration,” and was moving onto to other opportunities.

This story has been updated to include additional information. 

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