Root Canal forces Biden to postpone meeting with NATO chief

A root canal forced President Biden to cancel his public events on Monday and postpone his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the war in Ukraine.

The White House said Mr Biden would not be put under general anesthesia and the 25th Amendment, which would temporarily transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris, would not be invoked.

Dr. Kevin C. O’Connor, Mr. Biden’s physician, said in a memo that Mr. Biden had a toothache on Sunday and had some initial White House procedures.

“The president tolerated the procedure well,” said Dr. O’Connor. “There were no complications.”

But dr. O’Connor said the president felt “even more discomfort” Monday morning, “which was expected”.

He said the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s “endodontic specialist team” would complete the root canal at the White House on Monday.

Mr. Biden canceled his public events, including a White House reception for diplomats, and Ms. Harris filled in for him at a Monday morning event honoring college athletes.

He also postponed his meeting with Mr Stoltenberg until Tuesday.

Mr. Stoltenberg is expected to step down from his position as leader of the Western Alliance this fall. Several countries are vying for their own officials to succeed Mr. Stoltenberg, and Mr. Biden’s opinion carries a lot of weight as the United States spends more on defense than any other member of the alliance.

And while Mr. Biden has prioritized keeping Western allies united in the fight against Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin, there is debate in the United States about US aid to Ukraine. Mr Biden has said the United States will not end its support for Ukraine, but a small Republican delegation has pledged to make it difficult to pass on additional funding.