Transcript - Remarks: Joe Biden and Jill Biden Speak to U.S. Service Members on Christmas - December 25, 2021 | Factba.se

Jill Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:23 ()

C'mere, Commander.

Joe Biden

00:00:23 - 00:00:23 ()

Jill Biden

00:00:23 - 00:00:26 ()

Come here. Joe, can you pick him up?

Joe Biden

00:00:26 - 00:00:27 ()

Hey, c'mon. c'mon.

Jill Biden

00:00:27 - 00:00:28 ()

Unidentified

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Merry Christmas, ladies and gentlemen. It is my distinct honor and privilege to introduce the President of the United States and the First Lady of the United States. Ma'am?

Jill Biden

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Hi, Merry Christmas. How are you?

Joe Biden

00:00:43 - 00:00:49 ()

Bahrain, Qatar, Romania -- you're everywhere but home.

Jill Biden

00:00:49 - 00:00:50 ()

Joe Biden

00:00:50 - 00:00:51 ()

Jill Biden

00:00:51 - 00:01:16 ()

We are sorry. You know, one of the things we know -- because we are a military family, we know what it's like to have you -- you know, our loved ones -- serving and being away during the holidays. And so, I'm sorry you have to be away. We know what it's like for your families to have that empty seat at the table like we had.

Jill Biden

00:01:16 - 00:01:28 ()

And my dad was a World War Two vet. He -- he served in the -- he was in the Navy, and he served in the South Pacific on a ship. He was a signalman. And our son Beau was in Iraq for a year.

Jill Biden

00:01:28 - 00:01:44 ()

So, we certainly know, as a family, what it's -- what your families are feeling today. And that's why we will continue -- Joe and I will continue, forever and ever, to support you in any way we can -- but, most of all, serve your families.

Jill Biden

00:01:44 - 00:01:47 ()

Joe. Oh, here's -- here's Commander. This is --

Joe Biden

00:01:47 - 00:01:48 ()

This is Commander.

Jill Biden

00:01:48 - 00:01:51 ()

[Laughs] You can probably -- there he is.

Joe Biden

00:01:51 - 00:01:52 ()

He's 16 weeks old.

Jill Biden

00:01:52 - 00:01:53 ()

Yeah. [Laughter]

Joe Biden

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Hello, everybody, and Merry Christmas. And it's wonderful to see you all. But I know, as Jill said, you'd rather be home today, and I don't blame you.

Joe Biden

00:02:02 - 00:02:16 ()

Jill and I know how hard it is for you. But quite frankly, it's hard if your husbands, wives, moms, dads, children -- be apart or are on duty during a season of togetherness.

Joe Biden

00:02:16 - 00:02:22 ()

And we Bidens understand that. We still, every once in a while, look at that empty chair.

Joe Biden

00:02:22 - 00:02:44 ()

And, you know, service for your country is -- whether you're in Iraq or -- you know, Beau spent a year in Iraq with the Delaware Army National Guard. I remember that when we -- it felt like, as I said -- and all those birthdays and other occasions, celebrations where you're not together.

Joe Biden

00:02:44 - 00:03:03 ()

So, as your Commander-in-Chief, I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, thank you, thank you. It's a poor substitute for what you're missing, but I understand. I just want to know how much we care. We're grateful for your courage, your sacrifice -- not only your sacrifice, but your family's sacrifice.

Joe Biden

00:03:03 - 00:03:28 ()

The holidays really bring into sharp focus being apart is -- it's just part of the job, but it's a hard part of the job. And it's -- but it's who you guys are. You're solid -- you know, I get criticized for saying this occasionally, but you're the solid steel spine of the nation. You really are. Always vigilant, always ready when duty calls -- 365 days a year.

Joe Biden

00:03:28 - 00:03:47 ()

And during the holiday season, as we pray for peace and spread joy and glad tidings, we also look for hope toward the possibility of a better year and to give thanks -- and to give thanks to everything -- for everything we've got to you, the service, your families, and to give you as much space as you need.

Joe Biden

00:03:47 - 00:03:57 ()

Now, we were going to send this guy over. But I want to -- you know, we -- give you so much to make our freedom and prosperity possible.

Joe Biden

00:03:57 - 00:04:07 ()

You are -- as I said, you're the best. Your families serve right alongside you through every one of your missions and your deployments and your hardship. And we owe you, and we owe your families.

Joe Biden

00:04:07 - 00:04:22 ()

I've often said that, as a nation, we have many obligations, but we only have one truly sacred obligation: to properly prepare those and equip those who we send into harm's way and to care for you and your families while you're gone and when you return home.

Joe Biden

00:04:22 - 00:04:38 ()

It's because -- because all of you are out there doing what you're doing that America is -- Americans all across the nation are able to spend the day with their loved ones enjoying the blessings of security of our American democracy. And we're so, so grateful.

Joe Biden

00:04:38 - 00:04:56 ()

Now, we got Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard all on the line here, and I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you about the work you're doing for our country and what's on your mind. And you can ask your Commander-in-Chief any questions you want to. I'll try to answer them.

Joe Biden

00:04:56 - 00:04:57 ()

Unidentified

00:04:57 - 00:05:01 ()

Sir, ma'am, ladies and gentlemen, we'll take a brief pause here for a moment. Thank you.

Joe Biden

00:05:01 - 00:05:05 ()