West Wing Week: 12/04/2015 or, "Fromage!"

This week, the President traveled to Paris, France, to speak with world leaders and lead a global effort to confront climate change — as well as partner with the private sector to spur innovative, clean energy growth. And when he got back home, it was time to kick off the holiday season, and the White House was all decked out for the occasion. That's November 27th to December 3rd or, "Fromage!"

Friday, November 27

• On Friday, the First Lady, along with Bo and Sunny, welcomed the White House Christmas Tree — a Fraser fir, standing a full 18.5 feet tall in the Blue Room. Meanwhile, hundreds of volunteers prepared the White House for the holiday season.

Saturday, November 28

• On Small Business Saturday, the President and his daughters did some holiday shopping at a local bookstore, Upshur Street Books. And for a quick treat on the way home, they stopped by a local favorite — Pleasant Pops, for popsicles.

• On Sunday morning, the President boarded Air Force One en route to Paris, where he would attend a summit of leaders from nearly 200 nations who had gathered to address the threat of climate change. He landed after midnight — and went straight to the Bataclan, the concert venue where the most lives were lost during the terrible Paris terrorist attacks.

Monday, November 30

• On Monday morning, the President and his delegation drove to Le Bourget — where he spent a busy day with world leaders working on a deal to address climate change on a global scale. There, he also held two bilateral meetings. First, with President Xi Jinping of China, and later with Prime Minister Modi of India. He also addressed the Opening Session on the need to confront climate change.
• Later, in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium, the President announced Mission Innovation — a public and private sector project to invest in clean energy research and development.
• Following in the European tradition, the President attended a late dinner — hosted by President Hollande of France, in Paris' historic Marais neighborhood.

Tuesday, December 1

• Tuesday's agenda was filled with more meetings. First, with President Erdogan of Turkey and his delegation at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Paris. Then, the President got to meet with Embassy staff and their children.
• And later, the US hosted a meeting with leaders of small island nations — countries that are seeing firsthand the effects of climate change, and must already prepare for the consequences.
• Then it was lights, camera, action as the President sat down for an interview with French journalist Laura Haim.
• The President's final event of the day before flying home was a news conference where he answered questions about the Turkish border with Syria, our campaign to degrade and destroy ISIL, and both the threat and opportunity posed by climate change.
• Then it was time for the President and his staff to go home — leaving behind a delegation to continue the work with other nations to finalize the details of the climate deal.

Thursday, December 3

• On Thursday morning, the President delivered a statement about the senseless shooting in San Bernardino, California.
• Later, the President participated in one of his favorite quarterly activities — meeting with the season's class of interns — where he gets to put on his mentor hat and answer some questions.
• That evening, the First Family kicked off the holiday season with the lighting ceremony for the National Christmas Tree on the White House Ellipse.

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