乔·拜登总统发表了白宫称之为“圣诞致辞”周四下午，在2022年即将结束之际，他强调了团结、反思和善良。
拜登说，他希望“这个假期将排出感染我们政治并使我们相互对立的毒素”，并标志着“我们国家的一个新的开始——因为有太多的东西使我们美国人团结起来，而不是分裂我们。”
“我们的政治变得如此愤怒，如此刻薄，如此党派化，我们经常把彼此视为敌人，而不是邻居，民主党人或共和党人，也不是美国同胞。我们已经变得太分裂了，”他说。“但是，尽管这些日子很艰难，如果我们仔细观察，我们会发现全国各地都有亮点。力量、决心和韧性一直是美国的特征。我们肯定在进步。”
“情况正在好转。COVID不再控制我们的生活。我们的孩子回到了学校。人们已经开始工作了，”他继续说道。“所以，我希望这个圣诞季节，我们花一些时间安静地思考，找到圣诞之心的宁静，这是圣诞的核心，看看，真正地看着彼此，不是作为民主党人或共和党人，不是作为红队或蓝队的成员，而是作为真正的我们。”
拜登承认，对许多美国人来说，假期可能是“巨大痛苦和可怕孤独”的时候，他提醒说，50年前的这个星期，他在一场车祸中失去了他的第一任妻子Neilia和年幼的女儿Naomi，当时他的家人正在购买圣诞树。
“这是我很久以前学到的:没有人能够知道别人正在经历什么，”他说。“这就是为什么有时候最微小的善举却意义重大。简单的微笑。一个拥抱。一个意外的电话。一杯安静的咖啡。简单的善举可以振奋精神，提供安慰，甚至可能拯救生命。”
白宫称，该演讲被调侃为“聚焦于将我们美国人团结在一起的东西，他对未来一年的乐观态度，以及祝愿美国人来年快乐”。
“生活在这个国家，我们真的很幸运。我真诚地希望我们花时间互相关照，而不是互相关照。“所以这个圣诞节，让我们传播一点善意，”他补充道。
拜登的演讲是在强大的地址从乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽伦斯基(Volodymyr Zelenskyy)到国会，这位战时领导人在第二次世界大战期间的圣诞节期间提起了突出部战役，并在俄罗斯继续暴力入侵乌克兰的假期中提醒美国人共同的价值观。
泽伦斯基说:“就像勇敢的美国士兵在1944年圣诞节坚守阵地反击希特勒的军队一样，勇敢的乌克兰士兵在今年圣诞节也在对普京的军队做同样的事情。”
“女士们，先生们，美国人，两天后我们将庆祝圣诞节。也许是烛光晚餐。不是因为它更浪漫，不是，而是因为没有电，”他继续说道。“我们会庆祝圣诞节。庆祝圣诞节，即使没有电，我们对自己的信心之光也不会熄灭。”
这次演讲被比作81年前温斯顿·丘吉尔在国会的演讲——寻求美国帮助击退德国对欧洲的入侵。
“在这个特别的圣诞节，我要感谢你们，感谢你们所有人。我感谢每一个珍惜家庭温暖的美国家庭，并希望其他人也能得到同样的温暖。
拜登周四的讲话也是在参议院议员就大规模的1.7万亿美元的政府拨款法案其中包括对乌克兰的450亿美元。在他们控制议会的几天前，这笔资金遭到了众议院共和党人的抵制。
总统当天早些时候在椭圆形办公室发表讲话，警告说“危险的”冬季天气条件正在影响美国，并鼓励任何计划假期旅行的人在天气变得更糟之前“现在就离开”。
Biden delivers 'Christmas address' from White House: 'We have become too divided'
President Joe Biden delivered what the White House called a "Christmas address" Thursday afternoon where he emphasized unity, reflection and kindness as 2022 comes to end.
Biden said he hopes "this holiday season will drain the poison that has infected our politics and set us against one another" and mark "a fresh start for our nation -- because there's so much that unites us as Americans, so much more that unites us than divides us."
"Our politics has gotten so angry, so mean, so partisan, and too often we see each other as enemies, not as neighbors, as Democrats or Republicans, not as fellow Americans. We have become too divided," he said. "But as tough as these times have been, if we look a little closer, we see bright spots all across the country. The strength and determination, the resilience that’s long defined America. We’re surely making progress."
"Things are getting better. COVID no longer controls our lives. Our kids are back in school. People are back to work," he continued. "So, my hope this Christmas season is that we take a few moments of quiet reflection, find that stillness in the heart of Christmas, that’s at the heart of Christmas, and look, really look at each other not as Democrats or Republicans, not as members of Team Red or Team Blue, but as who we really are."
Biden acknowledged the holidays can be a time of "great pain and terrible loneliness" for many Americans, reminding that 50 years ago this week he lost his first wife, Neilia, and infant daughter, Naomi, in a car accident while his family was out shopping for a Christmas tree.
"Here's what I learned long ago: No one can ever know what someone else is going through," he said. "That's why sometimes the smallest act of kindness can mean so much. A simple smile. A hug. An unexpected phone call. A quiet cup of coffee. Simple acts of kindness that can lift a spirit, provide comfort, and perhaps, maybe even save a life."
The speech was teased as focusing "on what unites us as Americans, his optimism for the year ahead, and wishing Americans joy in the coming year," the White House said.
"We are truly blessed to live in this nation. And I truly hope we take the time to look out for one another -- not at one another -- look out for one another," Biden said. "So this Christmas, let's spread a little kindness," he added.
Biden's address follows a powerful address from Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Congress where the wartime leader invoked the Battle of the Bulge at Christmastime during World War II and reminded Americans of shared values during the holidays as Russian continues its violent invasion of Ukraine.
"Just like the brave American soldiers which held their lines and fought back Hitler’s forces during the Christmas of 1944, brave Ukrainian soldiers are doing the same to Putin’s forces this Christmas," Zelenskyy said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Americans, in two days we will celebrate Christmas. Maybe candlelit. Not because it’s more romantic, no, but because there will not be, there will be no electricity," he continued. "We’ll celebrate Christmas. Celebrate Christmas and, even if there is no electricity, the light of our faith in ourselves will not be put out."
Vice President Kamala Harris and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi applaud as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the US Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, Dec. 21, 2022.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
The speech has drawn comparisons to Winston Churchill's address to Congress 81 years ago -- seeking U.S. help to repel the German invasion of Europe.
"On this special Christmastime, I want to thank you, all of you. I thank every American family which cherishes the warmth of its home and wishes the same warmth to other people," Zelenskyy said.
Biden's remarks Thursday also came as Senate lawmakers reach a deal on the massive $1.7 trillion government funding bill, which includes $45 billion to Ukraine. That funding has faced resistance from House Republicans, days before they take control of the chamber.
The president spoke earlier in the day from the Oval Office with a warning on "dangerous" winter weather conditions impacting the country and encouraged anyone planning on traveling for the holidays to "leave now" before it gets worse.
