The Trump White House drew mockery this week from critics who were quick to notice empty seats at the annual White House Christmas Tree Lighting event on Thursday night.

A photo first posted by ABC reporter Steve Rudin began making the rounds on social media as it seemed to show a surprising number of empty seats in the crowd at the Thursday event, which was held on the grounds of the White House.

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Video of the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting appears to show everyone in good spirits, and even a packed crowd.

But critics on Twitter were quick to find parallels between the empty chairs at President Donald Trump’s tree lighting and his less-than-packed inauguration.

17 PHOTOS Trump family hosts first White House Christmas Tree Lighting See Gallery Trump family hosts first White House Christmas Tree Lighting US President Donald Trump, speaks with US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke during the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Ellipse in President's Park near the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the National Christmas Tree Lighting and Pageant of Peace ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY U.S. first lady Melania Trump, with U.S. President Donald Trump and hosts Dean Cain (L) and Kathie Lee Gifford (2nd L), reacts after she pressed the button to light the tree during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony near the White House in Washington, U.S. November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting and Pageant of Peace ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump arrive with their children at the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting on the Ellipse November 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: (L-R) Tiffany Trump, Ivanka Trump and Theodore Trump attend the 95th Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in President's Park on November 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images) Tiffany Trump (L) smiles next to Senior Advisor to the President, Jared Kushner, before the arrival of US President Donald Trump for the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Ellipse in President's Park near the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) Donald Trump Jr. smiles as he waits for the arrival of US President Donald Trump before the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Ellipse in President's Park near the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) White House senior advisor Jared Kushner, seated with his wife White House senior advisor Ivanka Trump and their children, looks over at U.S. President Donald Trump as he bows his head during the prayer at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony near the White House in Washington, U.S. November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting and Pageant of Peace ceremony on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, U.S., November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria US President Donald Trump (R) claps next to First Lady Melania Trump (2R) during the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Ellipse in President's Park near the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: U.S. President Donald Trump participates in the 95th annual national Christmas tree lighting ceremony held by the National Park Service on the Ellipse near the White House on November 30, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Al Drago-Pool/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump attend the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting held by the National Park Service at the White House Ellipse in Washington, D.C., November 30, 2017. The Beach Boys, Wynonna, The Texas Tenors, Craig Campbell were among the artists who provided the entertainment. (Photo by Astrid Riecken/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump attend the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting held by the National Park Service at the White House Ellipse in Washington, D.C., November 30, 2017. The Beach Boys, Wynonna, The Texas Tenors, Craig Campbell were among the artists who provided the entertainment. (Photo by Astrid Riecken/Getty Images) Wynonna Judd performs during the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Ellipse in President's Park near the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) Kathie Lee Gifford (R) and Dean Cain host the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Ellipse in President's Park near the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk off the stage during the 95th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Ellipse in President's Park near the White House in Washington, DC on November 30, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Washington Post reporter Dave Weigel invoked the words of Sean Spicer.

“This is the largest crowd that has ever attended a National Tree Lighting in history. Period!" he wrote.

CNN’s Jim Acosta also noticed the empty seats.

“I’m starting to think people really don’t like President Trump," he tweeted.

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CNN has been a frequent target of criticism from the Trump White House, and the outlet is planning to skip the White House's holiday party for the press this year.

Trump has repeatedly called for a return to wishing others a Merry Christmas insisting there is a quote “war on Christmas.”