Joe Biden lights lamps on the White House Christmas tree

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Joe and Jill Biden

Photo: SHAWN THEW / EPA

The office of US President brings with it plenty of duties - not all of them should be as pleasant as this appointment: Together with his wife Jill, Joe Biden lit up the Christmas tree at the White House.

The ritual at the beginning of the festival, which has been celebrated for almost 100 years, is celebrated by the Bidens on Thursday evening (local time) together with artists such as LL Cool J, Billy Porter or Kristin Chenoweth.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff were also in attendance.

"The evergreen tree is a reminder that life and abundance will return even in the coldest and darkest days of winter," Biden said.

The brightly lit tree stands in Ellipse Park between the White House and the Washington Monument.

President Calvin Coolidge first lit a Christmas tree in 1923.

The National Christmas Tree will also be open to the public from Saturday.

“My name is Joe Biden.

I'm Jill Biden's husband, ”the US President greeted the audience.

"We also think of those who have lost loved ones as a result of this virus or other cruel blows of fate or accidents," he continued in his brief address.

The next step against the budget freeze

Politically, too, Thursday went comparatively well for Biden.

The US government has taken the first hurdle in Congress to prevent an impending budget freeze.

On Thursday, the democratic majority in the House of Representatives passed a transitional budget that will ensure funding for the federal authorities until February 18.

The draft is now submitted to the Senate, which also has to approve.

However, some Republican senators could torpedo the project.

You want to force Biden to make concessions in the fight against the corona pandemic.

Biden is dependent on the consent of all senators from both parties in order to bypass the normal, day-long procedure and to approve the transitional budget in good time.

If that does not succeed, the USA faces a so-called shutdown from Saturday night.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees would then be sent on unpaid compulsory leave, and numerous public institutions such as museums and national parks would have to close.

jok / dpa