President Biden surprises patients at Children’s National Hospital on Christmas Eve

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden made a Christmas Eve visit to the Children’s National Hospital, where they met with hospitalized children and their families.

Visiting the hospital is an annual tradition for the first lady dating, but for the first time, the president joined her. The Bidens helped a group of children making lanterns as part of a winter craft project.

Jill Biden was also slated to sit by the Christmas tree and read “Olaf’s Night Before Christmas” to the kids. Video of her reading was also to be shown in patient rooms throughout the hospital.

The Walt Disney Co. provided copies of the book for each patient so they could follow along with the first lady, the White House said. Each book includes a White House bookmark designed by her office.

The annual tradition of a hospital visit by the first lady dates to Bess Truman, who served in the role from 1945 to 1953. The visit is part of the Bidens’ first Christmas in the White House. They plan to spend the Christmas holiday at the White House this year instead of Wilmington, Del.