Santa Barack Obama Wins the Hearts of Children

Former US President Barack Obama surprised patients, mainly the children at a children’s hospital in Washington by delivering gifts as Santa Claus. The 57-year-old former president wore the hat of Santa and carried a sack of gifts over his shoulder as he surprised children, their parents and well-wishers at the hospital, Children’s National Health System in Washington.

He greeted everyone in the hospital as Santa, with a “ho, ho, ho!” and informed them that his reindeers were “stuck in some snow”, but he wanted to make sure that he visits the patients in the hospital. Handing out gifts from the sack he carried over his shoulder, Obama gifted the children with glittery nail polish, Hot Wheels car sets and his grandmother’s favorite jigsaw puzzles to everyone present.

Obama also chatted with the patients in their rooms, playing at the playrooms. He also recorded a video message for those who were not able to witness the celebration. The hospital later tweeted that Obama “warmed our hallways and put smiles on everyone’s faces!” The tweet also included a short video showing Obama leading staffs and patients, who are singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

A little girl was fully surprised as Obama appeared in her room and bent down to the bed, to give her a warm hug. Obama also tweeted, “Merry Christmas and happy holidays to the extraordinary kids, families, and staff at Children’s National. And thanks for humoring me as your stand-in Santa”.

After visiting the kids and patients, in one of the common areas of the hospital, Obama thanked and praised the hospital staffs on behalf of the patients. He said, “You have the nurses, and staff and doctors and people who are caring for them and looking after them and just there for them, listening to them and holding their hands. That’s the most important thing there is, a great reminder of what the holiday spirit is supposed to be about”.

Obama last visited the hospital in the year 2014. The 44th president of the United States who still lives in Washington, last year also surprised many by dressing up as Santa and visited middle school students at a Boys and Girls Club in the capital.

As news of his 90-minute visit to the hospital spread, the social media responded in the best way possible with an outpouring of appreciation for their former president. The video has gone viral with over 2.9 million views, with many cheering for the former US president for his kindness and swagger.