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On the 19th of November, power was temporarily transferred over to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris while President Joe Biden went under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy. Albeit only for a measly 85 minutes, Harris became the first woman in United States history to hold presidential power over the country, according to the White House.
Harris has already broken many barriers by being the nation’s first woman to be elected Vice President, but she broke yet another barrier as she temporarily stepped into the role.
Luca W., a freshman at AISG, had this to say about the situation: “Honestly, Kamala Harris was already super successful career-wise. You know – being the first female Vice President and all. So, I find it super cool that she was able to break another gender barrier.”
According to Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, Harris worked from her office in the West Wing while Biden was under anesthesia.
To officially transfer presidential powers to the acting Vice President, the President must send a letter to House Speaker as according to section 3 of the 25th Amendment to the US constitution, declaring that they are “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be given to the Vice President by the acting President.”
Biden sent a letter to the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and Democratic Senator, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, at 10:10 a.m. ET before going under anesthesia.
After the procedure, Biden had to send a separate letter in order to transfer power back to him.
Ginger B., a sophomore at AISG, said, “as an American myself, I’m honestly happy for my nation to be able to be ruled under Kamala Harris. Even though it was for a super short period of time. Because I would honestly pick her over any presidential candidate if I could.”
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