Mask farce: Masked Hunter Biden returns to the White House with wife Melissa Cohen and son Beau to help unveil the Christmas tree: Mask-less Jill Biden kisses her unvaccinated 19-month-old grandson

• Jill Biden on Monday welcomed the official White House Christmas Tree 
• She broke off a bit of its branch and gave it to grandson Beau Biden - along with a big kiss
• Beau Biden was there with his parents Hunter Biden and Melissa Cohen  
• The 18 ½ foot Fraser fir tree is from Jefferson, North Carolina and will grace the Blue Room of the White House 
• 'It's beautiful. It's magnificent actually,' Jill Biden said of the tree 
• First lady was also joined by Captain Maryanne Harrell, the unit commander for the District of Columbia Army National Guard 
• Biden invited Harrell to join her as a representative of all National Guard forces that are on active duty and away from their families this holiday season 

As part of the White House Christmas Tree arrival on Monday, Jill Biden broke off a bit of its branch and walked it over to her grandson Beau Biden, delivering it with a kiss. 

Hunter Biden was holding his youngest son, his wife Melissa Cohen at his side, at the event, which took place on the North Lawn at the White House.

Beau, 19 months and with long blond hair, held the branch back out to Jill Biden, who asked him 'do you like it' before giving him a kiss.

She described the Fraser Fir as 'mangnificent.'  

'It's beautiful. It's magnificent actually,' the first lady said of the 18 1/2 foot tree that will grace the Blue Room of the White House. 

Two Clydesdale horses - Ben and Winston - drew the tree up the North driveway as the Marine band played 'Oh Christmas Tree.' 

The day was cold and sunny but the mood festive as the Marine Corps Band played carols and about 50 White House staffers gathered outside to watch the tree's arrival. It will be the Biden's first holiday season at the White House as president and first lady. 

There was a slight delay when the swingletree of the carriage came unhitched, but it was reattached successfully and the wagon continued up the drive. The bells on the horses' harness jingled as the carriage, adorned with holiday wreaths, rolled by. 

Biden - wearing a Lafayette 148 NY cranberry-colored coat, a white TSE skirt and top, and black boots - was joined by a local family representing the D.C. National Guard for the occasion. She invited them up to see the tree and pet the horses. 

The first lady, who reactivated the Joining Forces Initiative she started with Michelle Obama, gave Captain Maryanne Harrell, the unit commander for the District of Columbia Army National Guard (DCARNG) Medical Detachment, a hug as they checked out the tree. Harnell's husband Levi and children  - her sons Levi II and Marcus and daughter Elliana - were with her.

'Do you like the horses?' Jill Biden asked the kids. 'Aren't they so cool?' 

Biden invited Harrell to join her as a representative of all National Guard forces that are on active duty and away from their families this holiday season, according to the East Wing.

She said her message for servicemembers in the holiday season was to 'be safe and have a happy, healthy holiday.' 

After the ceremony concluded, Hunter and Beau posed in front of the carriage while Melissa Cohen snapped pics on her smart phone. 

The Fraser Fir tree is from Jefferson, North Carolina, and will be installed in the White House this week.  The chandelier in the Blue Room must be temporarily removed to make room for the tree, which nearly touches the ceiling. 

The tree's theme - along with the theme of this year's White House decorations - are chosen by the first lady but have yet to be revealed but it's coming next week.

'Happy holidays,' Biden told the members of the media covering the event. 'I'll see you next week when we do the Christmas reveal.' 

The tree arrival came ahead of the Bidens' trip to North Carolina. The president and first lady will visit Fort Bragg, where they will have Thanksgiving dinner with the troops stationed there, also as part of Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative. 

On Tuesday the Bidens leave for Nantucket, where they will spend the Thanksgiving holiday. 

The National Christmas Tree Association choose the tree that is the centerpiece of the state rooms of the White House. 

Rusty and Beau Estes, owners of Peak Farms, are two time previous winners of the Christmas tree contest. They previously presented trees to Laura Bush in 2008 and Michelle Obama in 2021.

This will be the thirteenth tree from North Carolina growers to serve as the official White House Christmas tree, nearly twice as many as runners-up Washington and Wisconsin.

The tradition of the White House Christmas tree goes back 56 years to 1965 when Lady Bird Johnson was first lady.   

The Estes and Harrell familes received a tour of the White House ahead of the Christmas tree arrival.