On Tuesday afternoon, amid strong winter winds, the National Christmas Tree located near the White House toppled over. This 40-foot Norway spruce, sourced from West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest, had been recently installed just two weeks prior in President’s Park, also known as the White House Ellipse.
The fall of the tree occurred around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, coinciding with intense wind gusts, some reaching up to 46 mph, as recorded at the nearby Reagan National Airport. The National Park Service (NPS) reported the incident, and their spokeswoman Jasmine Shanti communicated via email that the tree was set upright again by 6 p.m. the same day, following the repair of a broken cable.
The annual lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a cherished holiday event at the White House, featuring a countdown and musical performances. This particular tree was newly planted, replacing a previous tree that had succumbed to a fungal infection called “needle cast,” which led to browning and shedding of its needles.
The lighting ceremony for this tree was scheduled for Thursday. As of now, there has been no update from the White House on whether the event will be postponed due to the incident. In contrast, the Christmas tree outside the U.S. Capitol building was lit successfully on Tuesday.
