The 96th lighting of the National Christmas Tree

Last night, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump celebrated a classic America tradition: the lighting of the National Christmas Tree.

“This is a time of the year for rejoicing with our family and friends, for spreading charity and goodwill in our commitment all over this country in all of our communities, and for giving thanks for all of the blessings in our lives,” the President said from the Ellipse at President’s Park, just steps from the White House.

“No matter one’s faith or beliefs, the Christmas season reflects all that is best in the American spirit.”

Every year, crowds withstand the sometimes frigid D.C. temperatures to witness the ceremony put on by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. Amid multiple musical performances by a range of guests, including the U.S. Army Band, the President and First Lady led a countdown to the tree’s first lighting of the season.

“On behalf of Melania and myself and the entire Trump family—many of whom are with us tonight—I want to again wish you all a very, very Merry Christmas.”

Watch President Trump and the First Lady lead the National Christmas Tree lighting.

More: The First Lady unveils this year’s White House Christmas decorations

First Lady Melania Trump talks opioid abuse at Liberty University

Yesterday morning, First Lady Melania Trump joined Eric Bolling, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen at Liberty University in Virginia for a town hall on opioids.

“When I took on opioid abuse as one of the pillars of my initiative BeBest, I did it with the goal of helping children of all ages,” the First Lady said.

To a full stadium of students, she explained the scale of the problem and how each person can make a difference. More than 130 Americans die each day from opioid overdoses. Last year, those overdoses accounted for over 72,000 deaths—more than any previous year on record.

Under President Trump’s leadership, signs of hope are emerging. “The results speak for themselves,” Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway wrote last month. “Seizures of several kinds of illicit drugs are up, the number of new 30-day prescriptions is down and overdose deaths attributed to prescription pain medications have started to level.”

Watch highlights of the First Lady’s talk at Liberty University.

Kellyanne Conway: We can bring the opioid crisis to an end

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wave to the crowd after lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse | November 28, 2018