The moment Mel Brooks pretended to pull down Barack Obama's trousers

Comedian struck as the president presided over a ceremony to honour recipients of the 2015 National Medals of Arts and Humanities

President Barack Obama paid tribute to comedian Mel Brooks, chef Jose Andres, NPR interviewer Terry Gross and others at a White House ceremony celebrating “creators who give every piece of themselves to their craft.”

Brooks stole the show when he tried a spot of slapstick during the evening, appearing to try to pull down the president's trousers.

He was among two dozen artists, writers, playwrights and performers awarded the 2015 National Medals of Arts and Humanities. Mr Obama touted the group, which included author Sandra Cisneros, composer Philip Glass and singer Audra McDonald, as figures at the top of their fields and contributors to a national conversation.

“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,” he said.

The annual event is typically a serious affair, held under the glittering chandeliers of the East Room. But it took a comic turn this year when Mr Obama paid tribute to Brooks by quoting the director's instructions to his writers on the boundary-pushing film Blazing Saddles.

“Write anything you want because we'll never be heard from again. We will all be arrested for this movie,” he said, laughing.

The president also honored jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and actor Morgan Freeman. Neither was able to attend the ceremony. Freeman was “undoubtedly off playing a black president,” Mr Obama joked. “He never lets me have my moment.”