Biden leads national Christmas tree lighting at start of holiday season

By Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife Jill took part in the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in front of the White House on Thursday, ushering in the holiday season.

In a program that included performances by singers Patti LaBelle, Billy Porter and Kristin Chenoweth, among others, the president led a countdown that ended with a brightly lit tree with a shining star at the top.

Biden said the evergreen tree “reminds us that even in the coldest and darkest days of winter, life and abundance will return.”

The president, who on Thursday unveiled new measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic this winter, mentioned those who have lost loved ones to the deadly coronavirus and paid tribute to military personnel and their families.

“Jill and I are especially grateful to our soldiers and their families,” Biden said. “We are also thinking of those who have lost loved ones to this virus or some other cruel twist of fate or accident.”

The Bidens are spending their first Christmas as president and first lady in the White House. The Christmas decorations were unveiled earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, a Jew, celebrated Hanukkah by lighting a menorah at the White House.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Nandita Bose; Editing by Grant McCool)