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Vice President Kamala Harris said she is ready to step into the role of president if called upon, adding “you may have to take over” in response to a question about her preparedness to succeed President Joe Biden.
Harris made the remarks during a CNN town hall on the American Recovery Plan hosted by Jake Tapper Tuesday night, after a voter asked her how she would address the “perennial question” of the vice president’s role if the president is incapacitated or otherwise unable to “fulfill his or her duties.”
“The issue of presidential incapacity is one that is one of the ones that the Constitution addresses,” Harris replied. “The truth is that Joe Biden is a very healthy, vital 77-year-old man who exercises every day and is very engaged in the issues that are facing this nation and the world. But the basis, the Constitution of the United States is that the vice president and the Cabinet would act.”
Harris went on to say that she is both “prepared and ready” in the event that the vice president is called upon to act, noting that one of the first actions taken by the Biden administration was to establish an Office of Presidential Transition, which is managing a “careful and regular” line of communication between her office and the Cabinet.
“Should that ever be necessary, I’m prepared to do that,” Harris said. “You may have to take over, and I’m ready to do that if that happens.”
The comments from Harris come as Biden’s health has been the source of much speculation in recent months. The president has repeatedly downplayed the importance of these concerns, pointing to the regular physicals he receives and his daily exercise routine. However, many observers have noted that Biden’s age presents a risk, and a recent CBS News poll found that 35 percent of Americans are worried about Biden’s health.
In the event of a presidential emergency, the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution outlines a process for the vice president to assume the duties of the president. In addition, Democratic leaders in Congress recently introduced the Presidential Succession Modernization Act, which would add the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tem to the line of succession.