Pence Was Put on Standby Last Fall to ‘Take Over’

Vice President Mike Pence was put on standby to temporarily assume the powers of the presidency during President Trump’s unannounced visit to Walter Reed hospital in November 2019, according to a copy of Michael Schmidt’s forthcoming book obtained by CNN.

Schmidt writes that “word went out in the West Wing for the vice president to be on standby to take over the powers of the presidency temporarily if Trump had to undergo a procedure that would have required him to be anesthetized.”

While Pence did not ultimately assume the powers of the presidency the account raises fresh questions about the reason for Trump’s unscheduled visit.