During his first visit since entering the White House, President Biden spent Friday afternoon with wounded conscripts at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Biden spent about an hour in the hospital outside Washington, DC, where he visited with five wounded service members receiving treatment at the facility, before visiting the coronavirus distribution center.
The trip was the first time Biden had been to the medical center as president, but he is no stranger to the facility, having spent nearly six months there in 1988 as a patient.
Biden later spent time in the medical center visiting his son Beau Biden, who served as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard and died in 2015 in Walter Reed after battling brain cancer.
Biden met two officials from the hospital, and he greeted him a few minutes before his tour and thanked them for the care they had shown to his son.
“You cared for him in his last days with great grace and dignity,” Biden said. Add: “It’s an honor to be back.”
Biden later spoke to the service members who were at the site’s vaccination distribution center on the hospital’s indoor basketball courts.
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Before the president left the White House on Friday, he reflected on his years-long visit to Walter Reed while vice president of the Obama administration.
“I’ve been to Walter Reed a lot,” Biden told South Lawn reporters. “As vice president, we spent the entire Christmas day in Walter Reed every Christmas. These kids are amazing.”
Democratic leadership in the House and Senate are seeking to push for budget reconciliation to make the next coronavirus relief package a success without GOP support.
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Biden suggested he supported the move, saying he would like to see the package backed by “Republican support” if we can get it.
“But the relief must pass,” he added. “No if and or but.”