President Biden‘s first National Christmas Tree Lighting is going to be more lively than Donald Trump‘s last one … but bringing back a live audience is gonna cost taxpayers a bundle.
According to federal docs, obtained by TMZ, the National Park Service shelled out $139,000 to a company in Ohio to locate, transport and transplant this year’s National Christmas Tree just outside the White House.
The feds got a jump on their holiday shopping, signing the tree contract back in September. BTW, the last pre-pandemic National Tree, in 2019, set us back just over $160k — so, the government actually can spend less!!! Talk about Christmas miracles.
After a virtual tree lighting ceremony in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, it looks like things are getting back to normal with a live audience this year … and that means another big bill.
The docs show the National Park Service dropped an additional $171,000 on “event support” for the 2021 National Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities.
The official ceremony and lighting is set for Dec. 2 … and LL Cool J is hosting, with holiday music from Billy Porter, Chris Stapleton, H.E.R., Juanes, Keb’ Mo’, Kristin Chenoweth, Maren Morris, and Patti LaBelle.
On a smaller scale, the White House also spent $41k on holiday decorations for the Eisenhower building and Jackson Place.
The holidays … never cheap.