华盛顿-周五，美国总统乔·拜登携妻子吉尔·拜登参加了一个圣诞节季节性访问儿童国家医院，会见年轻患者及其家属。

当总统向孩子们和他们的家庭成员挥手微笑时，第一夫人给孩子们读了《这是圣诞前夜》。拜登总统还感谢医院工作人员的工作，并鼓励孩子们和他们的父母“保持信念”。"

拜登对孩子们说:“明年圣诞节我见到你们时，也许我会在白宫见到你们。”。

这次访问延续了81年的年度传统，可追溯到第一夫人贝丝·杜鲁门，总统的妻子们给生病不能在家过圣诞节的孩子们带来节日的欢乐。在过去的三年里，拜登总统每年都会在全国儿童基金会与他的妻子一起度假。

拜登夫妇定于周六前往马里兰州戴维营的总统度假地，他们将在那里度过圣诞节。

Bidens make traditional pre-Christmas visit to children's hospital

WASHINGTON --President Joe Biden joined his wife, first lady Jill Biden, on Friday for aChristmasseason visit to Children's National Hospital to meet young patients and their families.

The first lady read the children “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” as the president waved and flashed smiles at the children and their family members. President Biden also thanked the hospital staff for their work and encouraged the children and their parents to “keep the faith.”

“Next Christmas when I see you, maybe I'll see you at the White House,” Biden told the children.

The visit continued an 81-year annual tradition, dating back to first lady Bess Truman, of presidents' wives bringing holiday cheer to children who are too ill to be at home on Christmas. President Biden has joined his wife at Children's National during her holiday visit each of the last three years.

The Bidens on Saturday are scheduled to travel to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, where they will stay through Christmas Day.