- Joe and Jill Biden made their third visit to Children's National Hospital
- Biden told patients that there would be “more and more cures every year.”
- Children's National does a “special job” caring for infants, children, adolescents and young adults, the president said
Joe Biden joked that he was promoting a teenager to “congressman” as he visited 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 joined in virtually from their rooms.
Sumukh Arunkumar, 10, reacts as Joe Biden promotes him to “Congressman.”
Sumukh Arunkumar, 10, and Joe Biden during a presidential holiday visit with 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 said “Yay Santa” to the children and invited one of them, Sumukh Arunkumar, 10, to the stage.
“Come here, Mr. Mayor…I'll promote him.” “I'll make him a congressman,” he joked.
Biden thanked the staff and said, “It's very special what you're doing.”
He added: “Jill and I spent time, just like you parents did, with our children, in different circumstances.”
“But you know, that old expression: Where there is life, there is hope. Hopefully, when you get out of the hospital, your children will come back and spend time with other children. And you'll know what it's like, right.
First Lady Jill Biden reads “Twas The Night Before Christmas” during a holiday visit with patients and families at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC, 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 very much. Thank you very much. Thank you for everything you do. And hopefully we'll see each other before next Christmas. “The next Christmas I see you, I might see you in the White House.”
Biden continued: “Every year there are more and more cures, every single year.” As my father would say: Keep the faith. “We’ll get through this, I promise you.”
He added: “If any of your children remember us as president, OK?”
“If they say Joe and Jill Biden are out in the waiting room, promise you won’t say who.”