Biden Christmas Tree Lighting: Protesters, Funny Teleprompter and 'Please Clap' Moments

I reported Wednesday on how the National Christmas Tree toppled over in a high wind.

Many found it a great metaphor for Joe Biden and his administration -- Biden the guy who is always falling over. Fortunately they were able to right the tree after the wind gust was over, and let's hope that metaphor holds true too -- that we can right the country after the gust of Biden no longer occupies the White House.

Thursday night was the time for the lighting of the 40-foot spruce from West Virginia, the 101st year of the tradition. Joe Biden and his wife Jill were in attendance, as was Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff.

Biden reached the podium and immediately started counting down to the tree lights going, without giving the host time to say anything or even saying something himself.

Biden takes the stage at the National Christmas Tree lighting and immediately starts counting down. The host awkwardly laughed. pic.twitter.com/CEyY6vRIZN
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 30, 2023

Then there were a couple of funny moments. Now, you may have heard of the giant teleprompter that Biden has to have everywhere he goes that has such huge words so he can see them. Even with that, he often has trouble with reading the script and getting things straight.

This time you could see the words, shown across the stage. That was quite something. You can read it backwards, from right to left.

WATCH: Biden's giant teleprompter in action pic.twitter.com/CLqX9iTLxS
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 30, 2023

Yet Biden still managed to screw up the script, not remembering the full name of country singer "Mickey" (Mickey Guyton) and slurring again when he was mentioning who the performers were going to be for the evening.

Then Biden got lost on the stage yet again, as Jill turned one way while Joe turned the other way and seemed confused about which way to go.

Don't get lost, Joe! pic.twitter.com/UoNhxo1ZaE
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 30, 2023

Then there was this "please clap" moment to try to encourage the audience to applaud:

"30 seconds away, standby... standby applause... and applause, applause, applause!" pic.twitter.com/kRsZNJTXll
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 30, 2023

Biden also had a "please clap" moment on Wednesday during remarks about the economy when no one was clapping.

Biden encourages the audience to clap for him. pic.twitter.com/t74YH2WBpH
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 29, 2023

If people have to be told to clap, you're not getting through to them.

But in case you wondered if anti-Israel protesters were going to show up as they did at the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting, and since they seem to be haunting Christmas tree events, yes, there were some at this event too.

Pro-Palestinian protesters chant outside the National Christmas Tree Lighting event on the South Lawn of the White House. pic.twitter.com/DNfRIK99P8
— Victoria Sanchez (@VictoriaSanchez) December 1, 2023

Notice the names on the banners show they are put out by the Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL). Radical leftists are the ones underpinning all this.

They also chanted against "genocide Joe."