PHOTOSPresident Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Light Up The National Christmas Tree After Shunning Hunter Biden's Illegitimate Child: Photos
Dec. 3 2021, Published 2:12 p.m. ET
Yearly tradition!
President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden celebrated the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in D.C. on Thursday, December 2.
“You know, for the evergreen tree — it reminds us that even in the coldest, darkest days of winter that life and abundance will return,” the 79-year-old told the adoring crowd during the ceremony. “It’s a bright beacon of hope that reminds us of the promise we find in scripture of finding light in the darkness, which is also a very American thing to do — perhaps the most American of things: to find light. And it’s important to continue traditions like this one to remember that simple truth today.”
The beautiful tree — which sits in The Ellipse in President’s Park, south of the White House — is fabulously decorated with red and white lights and ornaments made by 1,300 students from around the country.
The tree lighting ceremony comes shortly after another tradition, which saw Joe’s son Hunter Biden’s illegitimate child left out. The Bidens decorated the State Dining Room for Christmas, as they celebrated the “Gift of Family” with stockings hanging over a stunning fireplace to represent each member.
Six festive stockings were hung for each of their grandchildren, but Hunter’s daughter — who was born out of wedlock — was MIA from the holiday decorations. Naomi, 27, Finnegan, 21, Maisy, 20, Natalie, 17, Robert Hunter Biden II, 15, and little Beau, 1, were all represented with their individual stocking, while Hunter’s 3-year-old illegitimate child Navy Jones Roberts didn’t cop a decorative pouch.
Hunter initially denied fathering the toddler with stripper and Arkansas native Lunden Alexis Roberts, with him claiming he had “no recollection” of meeting her — despite her being on the payroll at Hunter’s consulting firm while she was pregnant in 2018. (Roberts was reportedly kicked off the company's insurance plan after she gave birth.)
A paternity test later proved the 51-year-old painter was Navy’s dad, and he reportedly settled with his baby mama for an undisclosed amount of cash last year. The Biden family has allegedly never met the toddler.
Scroll through the gallery below to see photos from the Bidens' tree lighting ceremony.
- Jill Biden's 'Utterly Tacky and Tasteless' Christmas Video Brutally Compared to Melania Trump's 'Breathtaking' Decorations: Watch
- 'Narcissist Sore Loser': Donald Trump Mocked for Awkwardly Posing in Front of TV as Joe Biden Makes First Speech Since Dropping Out of 2024 Race
- President Joe Biden's Cognitive Ability Comes Under Scrutiny as CNN Panel Spirals Into Heated Debate
The first National Christmas Tree lighting was held in 1923.
The tree is surrounded by smaller trees representing every U.S. state and territory, in addition to the District of Columbia.
VP Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff ushered in the holiday season as well.
Singer LL Cool J hosted the event with performances by Chris Stapleton and Patti LaBelle.
The event will broadcast Sunday, December 5, on CBS.
The Howard Gospel Choir also performed during the festive celebration.
