It is a moment usually filled with great joy and dignity.

But legendary old joker Mel Brooks could not resist turning his Medal Of Arts presentation into a glorified skit as he pretended to pull down President Obama's trousers at the White House on Thursday.

The trailblazing Spaceballs creator pretended to go for the ultimate practical joke after he mockingly kneeled before the commander-in-chief as he had the enormous gold medallion hung around his neck.

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Trousering all the attention: Mel Brooks pretended to pull down President Obama's trousers at his Medal Of Arts presentation at the White House on Thursday

President Obama, displaying surprisingly slow reflexes, then tried to protect his groin when he realised what the 90-year-old clown was up to.

The moment began in sombre style, with Obama bowing his head in seeming reverence as Oscar winner Mel's achievements were read to the crowd.

And he even paid tribute to Mel by quoting the director's instructions to his writers on the boundary-pushing film Blazing Saddles.

He said: 'Write anything you want because we'll never be heard from again. We will all be arrested for this movie.'

Luckily enough The Producers favourite's attempts to see Barack's bloomers failed to pay off, or he may have had a point.

Sombre occasion: The President kept his head bowed as he listened to Mel's achievements

Since I'm here: Mel bowed before Barack then pretended to lunge for his pants

Better late than never: He eventually tried to fend off the nonagenarian

In a film career that began in earnest in the 1960s Mel created some of the most loved comedies in Hollywood history writing and directing the likes of Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and winning a best original screenplay Oscar for 1968's The Producers.

Among the others who recieved the 2015 National Medals of Arts and Humanities were Brooks, chef Jose Andres, NPR interviewer Terry Gross, author Sandra Cisneros, composer Philip Glass and singer Audra McDonald.

The President said the occasion was celebrating 'creators who give every piece of themselves to their craft.'

He added: 'We believe that arts and the humanities are in many ways reflective of our national soul. They're central to who we are as Americans — dreamers, storyteller, innovators and visionaries.'

Tickling her fancy: The naval officer watching the hilarity unfold was much amused

Pat on the back: The President must be a fan of films such as Blazing Saddles and The Producers