It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas outside the White House, as the Obama family switched on the newly planted National Christmas Tree.
The sprice, planted only days before Hurricane Sandy raged across the East Coast of America, made it "through the storm in in one piece," Obama told the audience.
"We know that some of our neighbours to the north saw a more ruthless and destructive Sandy," he said, and paid tribute to the "heroism and perseverance," of ordinary Americans during the superstorm.
Obama and his family at the Christmas tree switch on
He made a joke about the previous trees, which died after only a year in the role.
"Our tree has been having a hard time recently. This is our third one in as many years.
"Just goes to show you that nobody's job is safe here in Washington," he told the crowds.
Obama the performed a jolly holiday rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town with his family and the crowds.
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, James Taylor and The Fray were also present at the starstudded event, which was televised as part of a ritual that goes back to 1923. This is the 90th annual turn-on.