WASHINGTON, 20 November 2021, (TON): The White House said “President Joe Biden has reassumed authority after briefly transferring power to Vice President Kamala Harris while under anaesthesia for a routine medical procedure.”

Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that Biden had spoken with Harris and his chief of staff at about 11:35am (1635 GMT) and at that time resumed his duties.

Psaki tweeted “Biden was in good spirits and remained at the presidential facility at Walter Reed hospital to complete the rest of his routine physical.”

Biden, the oldest person to hold the presidency in US history, went to the Walter Reed Medical Centre just outside of Washington early Friday on the eve of his 79th birthday.

The White House earlier described the appointment as Biden's “routine annual physical”. It was his first since taking office in January.

It said “Biden would be anaesthetised during a colonoscopy examination, and as in past practice, the vice-president would assume power, which includes control over the US armed forces and the nuclear weapons arsenal.”

Psaki said “President Biden will transfer power to the vice-president for the brief period of time when he is under anaesthesia. The vice president will work from her office in the West Wing during this time.”