A fearless patient sucking on a pacifier stole the show Friday when President Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited Children’s National Hospital to spread some holiday cheer.
Unawed by the special guests who arrived for Jill’s reading of “The Night Before Christmas,” the toddler proceeded to treat the president as a playmate before swiping the first lady’s book when she was done.
Biden, 82, who is leaving office in exactly one month, was approached by the kid and offered a small red ball, which the president proceeded to toss back and forth until attempting to quiet the energetic youngster by seating them on his lap — before the kid quickly squirmed away.
It was the retiring president’s only public event of the day as a congressional spending fight threatens to trigger a partial government shutdown at midnight, though he’s expected to pose privately for photos with journalists at the annual White House print journalist Christmas party Friday evening.
“Folks, this is a tough time of the year, but it’s going to get better. We’ve been here at Christmastime, we’ve been here as patients as well. So keep going, these guys are going to take care of everything,” Biden told his audience at the children’s hospital.
“There’s a future president! There’s a president right there! So anyway, you’re in your thoughts, you’re in our prayers.”
Biden then offered the microphone to his new friend, who chose not to speak, as he instead playfully uttered into the mic, “ouah-ouah-ouah-ouah.”
The commander-in-chomp has also been caught awkwardly nibbling on adorable tots at holiday events, pretending at an October Halloween celebration to take a bite out of kids in a greeting line — including the leg of one dressed like a chicken.
