Joe and Jill Biden take Frasier pine that 'remained standing' from hurricane ravaged Blue Ridge Mountain town for White House Christmas tree

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden decided to take a Frasier fir that "remained standing" from a tree farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina for their own as the White House Christmas Tree. This comes after the area was devastated by Hurricane Helene earlier this year. 

The Biden administration has been heavily criticized over its handling of the devastation from Hurricane Helene, not least of which included Florida residents being skipped over by FEMA because they had Trump signs in the front yard. However, that did not stop the Biden White House from using the fir tree.

First Lady Jill Biden traveled down to North Carolina to take the tree, and making a speech, said, "This beautiful Frasier fir was grown at the Cartner’s Christmas tree farm, where the Cartner family has been growing trees for more than 60 years."

"Their farm is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, a region that was recently devastated by Hurricane Helene. The Cartner family lost thousands of trees in the storm, but this one remained standing, and they named it Treemendous for the extraordinary hope that it represents," Jill Biden continued.

She later added, "In just a few days, volunteers from all over the country will pour in to transform this tree and decorate the entire White House. And out of the whirlwind of glitter and garlands will come the warmth and comfort of I can't wait for you all to share in it. Happy Holidays!"

After Hurricane Helene's devastation in the region, many slammed the Biden-Harris administration over its emergency response. Many are still without shelter after US service members have left the area and the winter months loom. Some North Carolina residents are now living out of hotels as a result. The death toll from Hurricane Helene stands at 103 as of November 26. Additionally, the National Guard in North Carolina was not sent to aid those impacted by the disaster until a week after the hurricane.

Last year, the Biden-Harris administration was also slammed over the White House's Christmas celebration video, with many seeing the video as "cringe." The company hired to do the dance routine also advocates for radical and far-left policy positions.