Former US President Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to sick children, clad in a grey sweater, donning a Santa hat, and carrying with him a sack of gifts, including remote-control cars, Hot Wheels sets, nail polish, jigsaw puzzles and more, in the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC. He was joined by almost all the euphoric hospital staff, doctors, nurses, parents, and the children in his fun rendition of the Christmas carols.

"I just want to say thank you to all of you guys," Obama told staff, who greeted him with delighted cheers, in a video he shared on his Twitter account. "We've had the chance to talk to some of the wonderful kids and their families. As the dad of two girls, I can only imagine in that situation to have nurses and staff and doctors and people who are caring for them and looking after them... that's the most important thing there is."

Video of the 44th US President's visit was posted to the hospital's Twitter account, and it garnered more than a million views in less than three hours.

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. https://t.co/mFmYCVk7cr

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 19, 2018