
The total eclipse of the sun on Monday was a family affair for President Trump, who viewed the the action from the terrace of the White House alongside First Lady Melania and their son Barron.

President Trump also invited a few co-workers along for the event, with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and his daughter Ivanka also joining the group.

In his initial excitement however, President Trump made the mistake at looking up at the sun without glasses, and quickly cast his eyes down as he was blinded by the light.

He then looked up at the sun a second time.

At that point one of the aides standing below the balcony shouted out: 'Don't look.'

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There goes the sun: President Trump had an eclipse viewing party on the terrace of the White House Monday afternoon (President and First lady above on Monday)

Blinded by the light: As soon as he walked out on the terrace, President Trump looked up at the sun without wearing his protective glasses (above)

Getting a base: President trump quickly closed his eyes after making that mistake while Melania kept her eyes averted from the sky (above)

Almost there: President Trump got his NASA-issued solar eclipse glasses in place after his second attempt to look at the sun without protection (above)

Tanning Trumps: Melania then did the same thing a short while later, holding her protective glasses in her hands while looking up at the sun (above on left)

It burns: Barron, who is 11, was the sole member of his immediate family who did not gaze directly at the sun without protective eyewear

Four score: Ivanka, Melania, Donald and Barron all maaged to catch the eclipse at the same time while wearing their protective glasses (above)

Hello and goodbye: Ivanka was transfixed by the solar eclipse as she stood alongside Sessions, Ross and Lighthizer, while her father, Melania and Barron were ready to head back in after checking out the event for just 90 seconds

Ivanka has been sharing her excitement for the eclipse over the past few days, writing about the phenomenon on her social media accounts.

'Excited for #Eclipse2017? Remember to wear your glasses,' wrote Ivanka early Monday afternoon, some advice she should have shared with her father and stepmother.

She later shared an image as she viewed the start of the event from the National Air and Space Museum with workers from NASA.

And in a third post on Instagram, Ivanka shared a gallery of images that showed the viewing party on the White House terrace.

'Sharing the #Eclipse2017 experience with the President, First Lady and Cabinet Secretaries today on the White House Truman Balcony,' wrote Ivanka.

Her photos showed herself, Donald, Melania, Barron, Secretary Ross, Secretary Sessions and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

Ivanka also posted a number of Instagram stories, including one right before the big event.

'I'm Ivanka trump and I'm here in the Truman Balcony about the watch the solar eclipse,' said the First Daughter.

'So cool, I got my glasses ready, everybody wear you glasses, and it will be amazing.'

Melania also got in on the social media action, writing on Twitter: 'Exciting to watch the total eclipse with @POTUS today! #Eclipse2017'

Living in a powder keg and giving off sparks: President Trump gave his Attorney General Jeff Sessions a big handshake after first arriving on the balcony (above) as a smiling Melania looks on

Lord of the light: Sessions covers his eyes with protective glasses as he prepares to take in the eclipse

Glorious: Sessions (left) appeared overjoyed and giddy as he watched the spectacle, while Ross (right) remained a bit more blase

Proper protocol: Ivanka and Secretary of Commerce both remembered to properly protect their eyes during the rare event

Work hard, play hard: Ivanka has been excitedly writing about the eclipse on social media for the past 24 hours (above on Monday with Sessions in rear)

Story time: The First Lady looks on as President Trump stares up at the eclipse on Monday

Nailed it: Melania almost managed to show up the solar eclipse when she flashed her equally blinding 25-carat ring that was a tenth-anniversary gift from her husband and cost a reported $3million

Melan-isandre: The First Lady and President took in the eclipse for a few minutes before returning inside

Business: Ivanka took some time to speak with her father while the two were out on the balcony Monday afternoon (above)

Pleasure: Ivanka, wearing a pair of her shades from her eponymous label, seemed thrilled to see Secretary Ross, whose third wife Hilary Geary Ross is a key figure on the New York society scene

Rare tweet: Melania, who seldom post on social media, shared a photo of the event and wrote about how much she enjoyed watching the eclipse (above)

Sessions, Lighthizer and Ross arrived on the balcony around 2:15pm and were joined by Ivanka approximately 15 minutes later at 2:30pm for the spectacle.

President Trump came out with the First Lady and Barron just before 2:40pm and looked at the eclipse for less than two minutes before returning inside to the White House.

Also catching the eclipse from the White House on Monday were interim Communications Director Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway and Omarosa Manigault.

Conway watched on the Blue Room balcony just before the President and First Lady came out to the terrace while Hicks and Manigault were part of a group who assembled on the lawn of the White House.

Jared Kushner, who was not seen returning with his wife from Bedminster on Sunday, was again missing from the eclipse viewing on Monday afternoon.

President Trump also managed to show some good will towards Sessions after months of feuding, as he shook the Attorney General's hand soon after arriving on the balcony.

Ladies who eclipse: Tiffany trump took a break from moving into Georgetown Law School to watch the eclipse with her mother Marla Maples (above)

Look up: The ladies could be seen in a video that Marla posted on her Snapchat account (left) which appear to show Tiffany's boyfriend Ross Mechanic (right) in the background

That weld do: Lara Trump posted a photo of Eric hard at work at Trump Tower before the eclipse, showing off the welding mask they planned to watch the event with (above)

Top of the world: A very pregnant Lara then posted an image of herself on the roof of Trump Tower watching the event next to her husband (above)

Dynasty: 'Four generations of family taking in the partial eclipse today. Already looking forward to the next one in Texas in 2024!' wrote President George W Bush on Twitter (l to r: Henry, Mila and Jenna Bush Hager, President George W. Bush, President George W. Bush, Barbara, Laura and Barbara Bush)

Staff goes solar: Omarosa Maginault (center in black dress and cardigan) shared a photo of the Trump staff watching the eclipse

Hello to the chief: Omarosa and a young girl wave to President Trump from the front of the White House on Monday (above)

Look up: Scott Pruitt and members of the EPA staff (above) wore their protective glasses to watch the sun on Monday

Deserted: Senator John McCain watched the eclipse with his daughter Meghan in Arizona (above)

Lounge act: Senator Lindsey Graham, who will be speaking on Monday night after President Trump's address to the nation, watched the eclipse from his home in South Carolina (above)

Chelsea Clinton did not share any personal photos from the eclipse but did retweet a Twitter user who wrote: 'Twitter user who wrote: 'If you're frantically trying to buy eclipse glasses right now, you'll understand why 30 day registration deadlines reduce voter turnout' (above)

Avoiding the light: Secretary of Treasury Steve Mnuchin and Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell did not head out to watch the eclipse, and instead held a tax reform discussion (above)

Tiffany Trump was also in Washington DC to catch the eclipse, with the youngest daughter of President Trump currently moving into her new residence at Georgetown University before she starts law school.

She watched the eclipse with her mother Marla Maples on Monday from Georgetown rather than joining her father, stepmother, half-brother and half-sister at the White House.

The Trumps were not the only political family catching the eclipse together on Monday either, with the Bush clan also gathering for the event.

President George H.W Bush posted a photo as he enjoyed the big event with his wife Barbara, son and fellow former president George W Bush and his wife Laura, and granddaughters Barbara and Jenna.

Jenna brought along her husband Henry and four-year-old daughter Mila.

'Four generations of family taking in the partial eclipse today. Already looking forward to the next one in Texas in 2024!' wrote President George H.W. Bush on Twitter.

He did not say where the family was gathered but they seemed to be at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Also sharing photos of their eclipse viewing were Senator John McCain, who was with his daughter Meghan in Arizona, and his best bud Senator Lindsey Graham, who was laying out on his lawn in South Carolina.

Senator Ted Cruz also posted photos of the eclipse viewing party he was attending in San Antonio and his daughters watching the event back at the family's home through pinhole projectors.

The last solar eclipse that could be seen in the United States occurred in 1979, when Jimmy Carter was president.

There have been no phtoos however from the Carters or the Obamas or the Clintons, those Chelsea did tweet about the eclipse ajnd share some NASA photos.

She also retweeted a Twitter user who wrote: 'If you're frantically trying to buy eclipse glasses right now, you'll understand why 30 day registration deadlines reduce voter turnout.'