- Joe and Jill Biden made their third visit to Children’s National Hospital
- Biden told patients there would be ‘more and more recoveries every year’
- Children’s National does ‘special work’ caring for babies, children, teens and young adults, the president said
Joe Biden joked that he promoted a young person to “congressman” while visiting patients at a children’s hospital in Washington.
The president listened as Jill Biden read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to a group of patients and their families at Children’s National Hospital.
It was the President and First Lady’s third holiday visit to the hospital.
Other patients also participated virtually from their rooms.
Sumukh Arunkumar, 10, reacts as Joe Biden promotes him to ‘member of Congress’
Sumukh Arunkumar, 10, and Joe Biden during a presidential holiday visit to patients and families at Children’s National Hospital in Washington
Sumukh Arunkumar jumps for joy
At the end of the First Lady’s book reading, Biden told the children “Yay Santa” and invited one of them, Sumukh Arunkumar, 10, to the stage.
“Come here, Mr. Mayor…I’m going to promote him. I’m going to make him a congressman,” he joked.
Biden thanked the staff and said, “It’s special, special what you do.”
He added, “Jill and I spent time, just like your parents, with our children and other circumstances.
“But you know, that old expression where there is life is hope. Hopefully your kids will come back when you’re out of the hospital and we’ll hang out with other kids. And you’ll know what it’s like, right.
First Lady Jill Biden reads ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’ during a holiday visit to patients and families at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, on December 22, 2023
Joe Biden addresses young patients and their families
Joe Biden greets patients and their families at Children’s National Hospital
US President Joe Biden reacts as First Lady Jill Biden reads ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas’
“So thank you. Thank you. Thank you for everything you do. And I’ll see you hopefully before next Christmas. I’ll see you next Christmas, maybe I’ll see you at the White House.”
Biden continued, “Every year there are more and more recoveries, every single year. So as my father would say: keep the faith. We’re going to beat all of this, I promise.”
He added, “If any of you kids remember us when you’re president, okay?
“If they say Joe and Jill Biden are in the waiting room, promise not to say who.”
