Tis the season for giving – so taxpayers are being asked to shell out $139,000 to cover the costs of President Biden’s first National Christmas Tree lighting.
The National Park Service is paying the steep price to an Ohio company that located, transported and transplanted this year’s tree just outside the White House, TMZ reported Saturday, citing federal documents.
In what can only be described as a holiday miracle, the price is slightly cheaper than the $160,000-plus the feds paid in 2019 for the last pre-pandemic National Tree lighting, under former President Trump.
A virtual tree lighting ceremony took place in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The feds are dropping another $171,000 on “event support” for the 2021 National Christmas Tree Lighting Festivities, which will include a live audience, according to TMZ.
The official ceremony and lighting is set for Dec. 2. LL Cool J will host, and it will feature holiday music from Patti LaBelle, Billy Porter, Chris Stapleton and other performers.