‘The president is in charge’: White House says no transfer of power despite Trump being flown to hospital

Temporary transfer has only happened three times in recent history

The White House has insisted there has been no transfer of power from Donald Trump to Mike Pence, even as the president was flown to hospital to be treated for Covid-19.

In an apparent attempt to clamp down on speculation Mr Pence was to step in as acting president - something that has only happened on three occasions in recent history - the White House said the president would be at Walter Reed Army Medical Centre for several days, from where he would continue to work.

“The President is in charge,” said White House communications director Alyssa Farah. 

A transfer of power for medical or other reasons is made possible as a result of the 25th amendment of the nation’s constitution, ratified in 1967, that permits for such a temporary shift.

It requires the president to sign a letter saying he agrees to the move, and then for those powers to be transferred, initially to the vice president. The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, is next in the line of succession.

This event has only happened three times in recent years - once when Ronald Reagan underwent cancer surgery in 1985 and handed power to George HW Bush, and twice when George W Bush handed power briefly to Dick Cheney when he underwent a colonoscopy. That happened in 2002 and then in 2007.

The White House was adamant there was no such need for such a transfer and later on Friday evening the president emerged on the South Lawn, wearing a mask but giving the thumbs up, as he walked to the Marine One helicopter that took him to Walter Reed.

“President Trump remains in good spirts, has mild symptoms, and has been working throughout the day,” said press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

“Out of an abundance of caution, and at the recommendation of his physician and medical experts, the president will be working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed for the next few days.”

Mr Trump was seen again shortly afterwards landing at the grounds of the hospital, and being driven inside.