President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Christmas Day, wished U.S. troops stationed around the country and the world a Merry Christmas. President Trump spoke by video conference to members of all five branches of the U.S. military, saying in part: "I know it's a great sacrifice for you to be away from your families, but I want you to know that every American family is eternally grateful to you, and we're holding you close in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. We love what you do and love your work. Amazing people."
The President was spending Christmas in Washington because of a stalemate with Congress that left several government departments and agencies shut down since the weekend. Trump usually spends Christmas at his Florida estate, but said to reporters in the Oval Office: “I thought it would be wrong for me to be with my family. My family is in Florida, Palm Beach, and I just didn’t want to go down and be there when other people are hurting,” Trump said.
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