If Trump becomes incapacitated, what happens next?

Like two US presidents before him, Donald Trump could temporarily hand over power to his vice president should he become incapacitated, for example while undergoing a medical procedure as treatment for the coronavirus.

Mr Trump has tested positive for Covid-19 and is in quarantine as he begins the recovery process.

Under Section 3 of the US Constitution's 25th Amendment, adopted in 1967 following the 1963 assassination of President John F Kennedy, President Trump could declare in writing his inability to discharge his duties.

Vice President Mike Pence would become acting president, although Mr Trump would remain in office.

The president would regain his powers by declaring in writing that he is again ready to discharge them.

The 25th Amendment's Section 4 also offers a path to stripping a president of power if, for instance, his cabinet believes he has become incapacitated, but this has never been invoked.

Section 3 precedents

On 13 July 1985, President Ronald Reagan elected to have a pre-cancerous lesion removed after it was discovered during a colonoscopy. He signed a letter that, while not specifically invoking Section 3, said he was mindful of its provisions. Vice President George HW Bush was acting president for nearly eight hours, from 11.28am until 7.22pm, when Mr Reagan issued a letter declaring himself able to resume his duties.
On 29 June 2002, President George W Bush invoked Section 3, temporarily transferring his powers to Vice President Dick Cheney before undergoing a colonoscopy. Mr Cheney was acting president from 7.09am to 9.24am.
On 21 July 2007, Mr Bush again invoked Section 3 before another colonoscopy. Mr Cheney was acting president from 7.16am to 9.21am.

Section 4 precedents

Under Section 4, the vice president and a majority of either cabinet officials or "such other body as Congress may by law provide" can inform leaders in the two houses of Congress that the president "is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office".

In such a case, the vice president takes over as acting president. The president resumes office after informing the same two congressional leaders "that no inability exists" unless the cabinet officials or other body declare otherwise. Congress then must assemble within 48 hours to decide the issue.

If two thirds of the members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate vote in their respective chambers that the president is unable to discharge the duties of office, the vice president remains acting president until after the next scheduled presidential election decides the next White House occupant. Otherwise, the president resumes office.

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