Vice-President Kamala Harris became the first woman to – briefly – be given presidential powers while President Joe Biden underwent a regular health check.
Kamala Harris, 57, was in control for 85 minutes, while President Biden was placed under anesthesia for a routine colonoscopy on November 19.
Joe Biden’s doctor released a statement after the operation, saying he was healthy and able to execute his duties.
The medical examination came on the eve of the president’s 79th birthday.
According to officials, Kamala Harris carried out her duties from her office in the West Wing of the White House.
Kamala Harris is the first woman – and the first black and South Asian American – to be elected US vice-president.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the temporary transfer of powers in such circumstances was not unprecedented, and that it was part of the process set out in the US constitution.
“As was the case when President George W. Bush had the same procedure in 2002 and 2007,” Jen Psaki said in a statement.
President Biden was seen smiling as he returned to the White House.
“I feel great,” he said.
“President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 78-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the president,” said Kevin O’Connor, the president’s physician.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor said the colonoscopy found a “benign-appear polyp” that was easily removed.
He added that the president’s gait also appeared “perceptibly stiffer and less fluid,” than in the past. This was attributed to wear and tear of the spine.
Joe Biden, the oldest US president to take office, had his last full medical examination in December 2019.
At the time, his doctor released a medical report describing him as “healthy, vigorous” and “fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency”.
Vice-president Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as acting president of Venezuela hours after the state funeral of Hugo Chavez.
The ceremony was led by National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello in the capital, Caracas.
Hugo Chavez, who died on March 5 after a long battle with cancer, had named Nicolas Maduro as his chosen successor.
However, the main opposition coalition boycotted Nicolas Maduro’s swearing-in, saying that it was unconstitutional.
It argues that – under the constitution – the speaker of the National Assembly should be the one to take over as acting president.
The opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, called the move fraudulent.
After swearing in Nicolas Maduro, Diosdados Cabello said: “Venezuela will follow the route to socialism.”
As acting president, Nicolas Maduro is expected to call elections within 30 days.
Holding a copy of the Venezuelan constitution in his hand, Nicolas Maduro announced at the National Assembly: “I swear in the name of absolute loyalty to Comandante [commander] Hugo Chavez that we will obey and defend this Bolivarian Constitution with the hard hand of the free people.”
Vice-president Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as acting president of Venezuela hours after the state funeral of Hugo Chavez
Fireworks exploded above Caracas as Nicolas Maduro was sworn in.
Earlier on Friday, Venezuelans paid an emotional farewell to Hugo Chavez.
Nicolas Maduro told mourners that Hugo Chavez, who led Venezuela for 14 years, remained “undefeated, pure, living for all time”.
The former vice-president began the funeral ceremony by presenting Hugo Chavez’s coffin with the sword of Simon Bolivar – the 19th-Century independence leader he claimed as his inspiration.
More than 30 world leaders attended the ceremony, including Cuban President Raul Castro, Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.
A message was read out from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Hugo Chavez, 58, was re-elected for a fourth term as president last October after saying he had recovered from his illness.
He named Nicolas Maduro as his preferred successor following the recurrence of his cancer.
Nicolas Maduro:
Born in Caracas in 1962
Former bus driver who began political career as a trade unionist
Campaigned for Hugo Chavez’s release from prison in 1994
Speaker of the National Assembly from 2005-2006
2006 becomes foreign minister
2012 appointed vice-president
Has long-standing ties with Cuba where he trained as a union organizer
Described as a wily operator and a skilled negotiator
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