A woman had held the powers of the presidency for the first time in United States history after president Joe Biden temporarily transferred power to vice president Kamala Harris.
Joe Biden resumed his presidential duties at 11.35am (4.35pm Irish time) on Friday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, after undergoing anesthesia for a colonoscopy.
Ms Harris, the first woman to be vice president, made history during the short time she served as acting president.
Mr Biden underwent a “routine colonoscopy” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre, the White House said earlier.
He drove early today to the medical centre in the Washington suburbs for his first routine physical exam as president.
“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,” Ms Psaki said ahead of the colonoscopy.
“The vice president will work from her office in the West Wing during this time.”
Mr Biden (78) is the oldest person to serve as US president, and interest in his health has been high since he declared his candidacy for the White House in 2019.
