First Ladies Greeting the Official White House Christmas Tree: Photos

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. First lady Jill Biden waves after she receives the official White House Christmas Tree on the North Portico of the White House on November 22, 2021 in Washington, DC. The eighteen-foot Fraser fir was grown in North Carolina by Rusty and Beau Estes, winners of the National Christmas Tree Association's 2021 grand championship. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — Jill Biden receiving the 2021 White House Christmas tree. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty

The annual White House Christmas tree presentation has been ongoing for 58 years. And with the arrival comes an appearance from the first lady, who is traditionally the one to "greet" the tree as it arrives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Fun fact: North Carolina has produced more White House Christmas trees than any other state, according to The Carolina Journal. And 2023's tree, in fact, is a Fraser fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina.

From the mid 1990s to now, take a look back on first ladies greeting the White House Christmas tree through the years.

01 of 28

1995

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 27: First Lady of the US Hillary Clinton accepts the White House Christmas tree 27 November during ceremonies on the South Lawn. The tree, which will be on display in the Blue Room, is an 18 and a half foot Fraser fir tree. It was presented by Grand Champion Christmas tree growers Ron Hudler and Danny Dollar from West Jefferson, North Carolina. (Photo credit should read JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty Images) — Hillary Clinton receiving the White House Christmas tree. JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty

Hillary Clinton welcomed the White House Christmas tree — which was brought to the White House in a horse-drawn carriage — in a festive red ensemble.

02 of 28

1997

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 26: First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (L) stands next to Anthony (C) and Adnenne(R) Brown as she speaks to reporters about the White House Christmas Tree 26 November at the South entrance of the White House in Washington DC. The First Lady said the tree would be decorated by members of the White House staff. (Photo credit should read PAUL RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images) — Hillary Clinton receiving the White House Christmas tree. PAUL RICHARDS/AFP via Getty

In 1997, the First Lady addressed the crowd as she welcomed in another tree.

03 of 28

1998

WASHINGTON, : US First Lady Hillary Clinton greets Santa Claus during a ceremony welcoming the White House Christmas tree at the South Portico of the White House 01 December in Washington, DC. The tree is a balsam fir from Endeavor, WI. (ELECTRONIC PHOTO) AFP PHOTO/Joyce NALTCHAYAN (Photo credit should read JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty Images) — Hillary Clinton receiving the White House Christmas tree. JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty

In 1998, the First Lady spent some time with Santa Claus as they greeted the White House Christmas tree.

04 of 28

1999

WASHINGTON, : US First Lady of the US Hillary Rodham Clinton(R) accepts the White House Christmas tree that will be displayed in the Blue Room this holiday season as "Santa Claus" looks on during ceremonies 02 December, 1999 at the White House in Washington, DC. This year's tree is an 18 and a half foot Noble Fir grown by Hedlund's Christmas Tree Farm near Martin, WA. AFP PHOTO/ Joyce NALTCHAYAN (Photo credit should read JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty Images) — Hillary Clinton receiving the White House Christmas tree. JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty

In 1999, Santa was back to supervise the tree's arrival.

05 of 28

2000

In 2000, Clinton welcomed the tree for a final time.

06 of 28

2001

397831 01: First Lady Laura Bush welcomes the horse and cart delivering this year's Christmas tree, a Pennsylvania Concolor Fir, to the White House November 28, 2001 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Mark Wilson/Getty

In 2001, First Lady Laura Bush wore a coordinating red skirt suit while accepting the White House Christmas Tree for the first time.

07 of 28

2002

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 2: First lady Laura Bush and Ed Hedlund walk up to the carriage carrying the official White House Christmas tree December 2, 2002 at the White House in Washington, DC. The 18-foot tall Noble fir was grown in Washington State by the Hedlunds family and will be placed in the Blue Room of the White House. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Mark Wilson/Getty

In 2002, she welcomed an 18-ft. tall Noble fir into the White House.

08 of 28

2003

WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 1: U.S. First Lady Laura Bush inspects a Fraser fir tree after it was delivered by horse drawn wagon on the North Lawn of the White House December 1, 2003 in Washington, DC. Bush will unveil the Christmas decorations at the White House with a media preview on Decembver 4. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Mark Wilson/Getty

In 2003, the First Lady looked festive in a red ensemble while inspecting the White House Christmas tree.

09 of 28

2004

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 29: U.S. First Lady Laura Bush speaks to the media as she receives the official White House Christmas tree, an 18 1/2 foot Noble fir, from John Tillman, Carol Tillman and their children Tyler Tillman and Rachel Tillman of Rochester, Washington on November 29, 2004 at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC. The tree will adorn the Blue Room on the State Floor of the White House. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Alex Wong/Getty

Laura Bush donned a green coat to accept the Christmas tree in 2004.

10 of 28

2005

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 28: North Carolina tree growers (L-R) Buddy Deal, Margaret Deal, Earl Deal and Betsy Deal present the U.S. First Lady Laura Bush with the official White House Christmas tree November 28, 2005 at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, DC. The 18-and-a-half-foot-tall Fraser Fir tree will be placed in the Blue Room and be the centerpiece of the White House Christmas decorations. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

In 2005, the First Lady smiled as she accepted the official White House Christmas tree.

11 of 28

2006

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 27: US first lady Laura Bush (2nd-R) stands with representatives of the National Christmas Tree Association and members of the Botek family while receiving the National Christmas Tree at the North Portico of the White House November 27, 2006 in Washington, DC. The Botek family owns the Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, and won the National Christmas Tree Grand Championship. The 18-and-a-half-foot-tall Douglas fir will stand in the White House Blue Room for the holidays. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Chip Somodevilla/Getty

In 2006, Laura Bush was accompanied by the Botek family, whose farm in Pennsylvania won the National Christmas Tree Grand Championship.

12 of 28

2007

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 26: U.S. first lady Laura Bush (R) poses with Joe Freeman (3rd-R) as she is presented with a Fraser fir by Freeman and Linda Jones and (2nd-R) of Mistletoe Meadows Christmas Tree Farm in Laurel Springs, North Carolina November 26, 2007 at the White House in Washington, DC. The tree will be placed in the Blue Room as part of the White House Christmas decorations. Beth Walterscheidt of the Christmas Tree Growers Association is on the left. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Alex Wong/Getty

In 2007, Laura Bush donned a pink coat to welcome the Fraser fir from North Carolina.

13 of 28

2008

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: First Lady Laura Bush walks towards a twenty foot tall Fraser Fir tree from North Carolina outside the North Portico of the White House on November 30, 2008 in Washington, DC. The First Lady attended the event to accept the White House's Christmas tree which will be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House during the 2008 holiday season. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) — Laura Bush receiving the White House Christmas tree. Brendan Smialowski/Getty

In 2008 Laura Bush welcomed the White House Christmas tree for the final time.

14 of 28

2009

Their first Christmas in the White House! Malia and Sasha helped their mom, Michelle Obama, welcome the official White House Christmas tree in 2009.

15 of 28

2010

US First lady Michelle Obama (L) with daughters Malia (C) and Sasha (R) check out the White House Christmas tree after it was delivered by horse drawn carriage on November 26, 2010 at the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO / TIM SLOAN (Photo credit should read TIM SLOAN/AFP via Getty Images) — Michelle Obama receiving the White House Christmas tree. TIM SLOAN/AFP via Getty

The First Lady, Malia and Sasha Obama smiled while taking a look at the 2010 Christmas tree.

16 of 28

2011

US First Lady Michelle Obama (R) and daughters Sasha (L) and Malia, accompanied by dog Bo, receive the White House Christmas tree at the White House in Washington on November 25, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) — Michelle Obama receiving the White House Christmas tree. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty

In 2011, Michelle, Sasha and Malia Obama took a look at their Christmas tree as it made its arrival. Their dog, Bo, was there to supervise, of course.

17 of 28

2012

US First Lady Michelle Obama smells the White House Christmas tree upon its arrival as her daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (C) look on at the White House in Washington on November 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images) — Michelle Obama receiving the White House Christmas tree. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty

In 2012, Michelle Obama sniffed the Christmas tree before it headed into the White House.

18 of 28

2013

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 29: Kyra Yurko, Christopher Botek, Leslie Wyckoff, John Wyckoff, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, Michelle Obama, and dogs Sunny and Bo view the White House Christmas tree at the North Portico at White House on November 29, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/WireImage) — Michelle Obama receiving the White House Christmas tree. Leigh Vogel/WireImage

In 2013, the family brought their new pup Sunny and Bo (who was an old pro at greeting the tree) along. The dogs wore matching, festive bandanas for the occasion.

19 of 28

2014

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, center, gestures while greeting the White House Christmas tree with her daughters Malia Obama, right, and Sasha Obama, second left, holding their dogs, Bo and Sunny, outside of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. The 20-foot white fir from a Pennsylvania tree farm will be trimmed in the Blue Room of the White House, where it will stand as the main attraction throughout the holiday season. Photographer: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty Images — Michelle Obama receiving the White House Christmas tree. Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg via Getty

Michelle Obama gestured to the crowd about how big the 2015 Christmas tree was as her daughters, Malia and Sasha, and dogs, Sunny and Bo, looked on. The pups also wore matching jingle bells.

20 of 28

2015

Sunny and Bo were back to help their mom inspect the 2015 White House Christmas tree.

21 of 28

2016

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 25: U.S. first lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by her nephews Austin and Aaron Robinson and her dogs Bo and Sunny, is presented with the official White House Christmas tree by Dave and Mary Vander Velden of Oconto, Wisconsin, at the North Portico of the White House November 25, 2016 in Washington, DC. The tree, a 19 feet tall Balsam fir, arrived at the White House on Friday and will be on display in the Blue Room during the holiday season. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) — Michelle Obama receiving the White House Christmas tree. Alex Wong/Getty

Michelle Obama's nephews, Austin and Aaron Robinson, helped her welcome the Christmas tree for the last time. They were all smiles as they accepted the 19-ft. tree from Wisconsin.

22 of 28

2017

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 20: First lady Melania Trump and her son Barron inspect the 19.5-foot balsam Fir that will serve as the official White House Christmas Tree at the White House on November 20, 2017. The tree is a Wisconsin grown Fir provided by the Chapman family of Silent Night Evergreens. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) — Melania Trump receiving the White House Christmas tree. Mark Wilson/Getty

In 2017, Melania Trump was accompanied by son Barron Trump to check out the official White House Christmas tree for the first time.

23 of 28

2018

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 19 : President Donald J. Trump and first lady Melania Trump view the arrival of the White House Christmas tree at the North Portico of the White House on Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images) — Melania Trump receiving the White House Christmas tree. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

In 2018, Donald Trump accompanied Melania Trump to view the arrival of that year's White House Christmas tree.

24 of 28

2019

In 2019, Melania Trump welcomed the tree once more — this time, it came from Pennsylvania.

25 of 28

2020

U.S. First Lady Melania Trump stands in front of the White House Christmas Tree at the North Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020. Oregon residents Dan and Anne Taylor of West's Tree Farm presented the Christmas Tree and the tree will be displayed in the White House Blue Room. Photographer: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg via Getty Images — Melania Trump receiving the White House Christmas tree. Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg via Getty

Melania Trump greeted the 2020 Christmas tree, which was grown in Oregon.

26 of 28

2021

Dr. Jill Biden waved to the crowd as she greeted the 18-ft. Fraser fir — which was grown in North Carolina — that would be the White House's official Christmas tree.

27 of 28

2022

First lady Dr. Jill Biden received the 2022 White House Christmas tree on Nov. 21, saying the nearly 19-ft. white fir was "beautiful."

"I love the tree," Biden said of the 20-year-old fir, which came via Evergreen Acres Tree Farm in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, owned by Paul and Pam Shealer, who were awarded the honor of the National Christmas Tree Association's 2022 Grand Champion Grower (a title they also won in 2000, when they presented the tree to former first lady Hillary Clinton).

Dr. Biden posed with the Shealer family, along with her 2-year-old grandson, Beau, for photos in front of the tree.

28 of 28

2023

Dr. Jill Biden dressed festively in green to receive the 2023 tree on Nov. 20, the same day President Joe Biden pardoned the Thanksgiving turkeys.

This year, the first lady was joined by military-connected families and their children this year to greet the 18 1/2-ft. Fraser fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina.

Afterward, Dr. Biden told reporters the tree was "magnificent" and noted, "Some of the kids said that they had never seen a tree so big."

The evergreen will stand floor-to-ceiling in the Blue Room this season.