President Trump and first lady Melania Trump marked the official start of the holiday season Monday by receiving the White House Christmas tree.
The Trumps greeted the arrival of the 19.5-foot-tall tree from Mountain Top Fraser Fir in Newland, North Carolina, which was delivered to the North Portico by a horse-drawn wagon. The Marine Band played traditional Christmas music, including “O Come All Ye Faithful.”
The tree will be displayed in the Blue Room.
The White House Christmas tree selection is overseen by the National Christmas Tree Association, which has provided the official tree since 1966. Larry Smith of Mountain Top Fraser Fir was named “grand champion” in this year’s competition.
“I feel as though I have finally won the Super Bowl,” he said in a statement. “It’s a great honor to represent the Christmas tree industry by providing the Official White House Christmas Tree in 2018.”
President Benjamin Harrison was the first to place a Christmas tree in the White House, in 1889, according to the White House Historical Association.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.