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Joe Biden will undergo a “routine colonoscopy” today, during which time Vice President Kamala Harris will serve as acting President of the United States.
Mr Biden has to transfer power to Ms Harris as he will be anesthetised during the procedure. There is a small risk anytime someone is placed under anesthesia that they will die from complications with the gas. As such, Mr Biden must transfer power prior to his visit.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki spoke to reporters about Mr Biden’s hospital visit, noting that it was not an emergency and that it was not the first time a president had undergone the procedure.
“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 anesthesia,” Ms Psaki said. “The Vice President will work from her office in the West Wing during this time.”
Biden White House will release president’s medical records following his annual physical as Republicans question his health and cognition
White House officials have promised that they will release results of the annual physical which President Biden is currently undergoing at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Bethesda Maryland, but no bill of health may be clean enough for some of his Republican critics.
Mr Biden, whose campaign released a set of medical records during the 2020 election, is the oldest person to ever serve as president, and Republicans have used his age and occasional verbal slip-ups to suggest that he is unfit to serve.Earlier this month, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley suggested that Mr Biden needs a “cognitive test”.
“Let’s face it, we’ve got a lot of people in leadership positions that are old. And that’s not being disrespectful. That’s a fact,” she said in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network. Ms Haley later suggested that Mr Biden “is not totally in charge” of the country.
Accusations of cognitive problems dogged Mr Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, throughout his four tumultuous years in office. They persisted even after his then-physician, Dr Ronny Jackson, revealed that Mr Trump had passed a test known as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which is meant to detect Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Dr Jackson, now a Republican member of Congress from Texas, has suggested that there is “something serious going on” with Mr Biden’s health and predicted that he would either resign of his own accord or be forced to.
Andrew Feinberg19 November 2021 16:27
Trump also reportedly underwent a colonoscopy while in office
Earlier this year, former President Donald Trump’s former press secretary Stephanie Grisham alleged that when Mr Trump went for an unexplained medical procedure at Walter Reed medical centre, it was for a colonoscopy. But Ms Grisham wrote in her book that Mr Trump did not want it disclosed because he did not want to be “the butt of a joke” for late-night comedians.
Ms Grisham also wrote that the president refused anesthesia because he did not want to hand power over to Vice President Mike Pence.
Eric Garcia19 November 2021 16:07
Kamala Harris makes history when she briefly assumes powers of presidency during Biden procedure
Even though it is only on a technicality, Vice President Kamala Harris will make history today when she briefly steps in to serve as President of the United States while Joe Biden is under anesthesia. After Mr Biden transfers power to Ms Harris, she will become the first woman to serve as a US president.
The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg has more on the power transfer in his story below…
Graig Graziosi19 November 2021 15:40
Biden releases statement on Build Back Better vote
Joe Biden released a statement today once again promoting his “Build Back Better” after its passage in the House, calling it a “giant step forward” and key to “carrying out my economic plan to create jobs, reduce costs, make our country more competitive, and give working people and the middle class a fighting chance.”
“The Build Back Better Act is fiscally responsible. It reduces the deficit over the long-term. It’s fully paid for by making sure that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations begin to pay their fair share in federal taxes. It keeps my commitment that no one earning less than $400,000 a year will pay a penny more in federal taxes.,” Mr Biden wrote. “Leading economists and independent experts on Wall Street have confirmed that it will not add to inflationary pressures. Instead, it will boost the capacity of our economy and reduce costs for millions of families.”
His statement included an overview of what the plan does for Americans, highlighting lower drug prices, child and senior care, family and middle class tax cuts, and childhood educational benefits granted by the program.
Graig Graziosi19 November 2021 15:29
Biden to be treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre
Joe Biden will undergo a “routine colonoscopy” today at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC.
The Walter Reed hospital has long been the hospital of choice for sitting US presidents. Last year, former President Donald Trump spent three days in the care of Walter Reed staff as he suffered through a bout of Covid-19.
The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander has more on the historic transfer of power below…
Graig Graziosi19 November 2021 15:10
Welcome to the liveblog
Join The Independent for updates on Joe Biden’s condition as he undergoes a “routine” medical procedure. Because he will be anesthetised, Mr Biden is transferring power to Vice President Kamala Harris for the duration of his procedure.
Graig Graziosi19 November 2021 15:01