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Nov. 30, 2017 / 2:30 PM / Updated Nov. 30, 2017 at 8:13 PM

Trumps light National Christmas Tree for first time

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and first lady Melania Trump (2nd-R) participate in the lighting ceremony for the 2017 National Christmas Tree with hosts Kathie Lee Gifford (2nd-L) and Dean Cain. Photo by Al Drago/UPI

1 of 9 | U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and first lady Melania Trump (2nd-R) participate in the lighting ceremony for the 2017 National Christmas Tree with hosts Kathie Lee Gifford (2nd-L) and Dean Cain. Photo by Al Drago/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 30 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump together lit the National Christmas Tree for the first time Thursday in an event hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Dean Cain.

The president counted down from 10 before Melania Trump flipped a switch to light the tree at the White House Ellipse.

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"We want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year," Donald Trump told the crowd. "Have unbelievable holidays. And we are now going to light a very beautiful tree."

Much of the Trump family was in attendance at the event, including Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Vanessa Trump, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, and their children, and Tiffany Trump.

The lighting ceremony was accompanied by musical performances from Craig Campbell, Wynonna Judd, Boys II Bow Ties, The Texas Tenors, The Beach Boys, Jack Wagner, the U.S. Navy Band, Mannheim Steamroller, Us the Duo and Steve Gibson.

The event is organized by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. President Calvin Coolidge began the National Tree Lighting tradition in 1923.

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The televised special of the tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to air Monday on the Hallmark Channel.

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