Melania Trump skips unveiling of White House holiday decorations to news media
She decided ‘to let the decorations speak for themselves,’ a spokeswoman says
WASHINGTON >> First lady Melania Trump skipped the traditional press preview of the White House holiday decorations Monday, tweeting out a 56-second video of herself wandering through the glittery, dressed-up rooms in a dark coat and boots.
Was she upstairs baking star-shaped sugar cookies using her recipe, which appears in the official White House holiday printed program?
Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said Trump decided “to let the decorations speak for themselves.”
Members of the media were invited on a brisk 30-minute self-guided tour through the holiday wonderland of more than 20,000 feet of lights and 12,000 bows, put up over the past few days with the help of 225 volunteers. Official theme: American Treasures. The color red was big, appearing in a dramatic forest of 40 towering crimson topiary trees in the East Colonnade and on 14,000 ornaments in the Grand Foyer and Cross Hall.
The first lady’s office described the red motif: “The choice of red is an extension of the pales, or stripes found in the presidential seal designed by our Founding Fathers. It is a symbol of valor and bravery.”
However, the unconventional grove of red trees evoked an immediate reaction online. They were described as scary and referred to as the “hallway of Yuletide murders,” “the avenue of blood red trees” and ominous.
Green Room decorations celebrate the country’s harvest and include fruits, grains and vegetables, including aptly colored artichokes and tomatoes, which were artfully arranged on mantels and antique tabletops. The East Room featured mantel pieces trimmed with silhouetted skylines of New York, St. Louis, Chicago and San Francisco. The China Room presented table settings of three state dinners, including the Trump administration’s sole such soiree for the president of France.
In the Red Room, wreaths made of pencils bearing Melania Trump’s “Be Best” logo and “Be Best” tree ornaments highlighted the first lady’s signature initiative on issues facing children, including cyberbullying. The traditional White House gingerbread house was supersize, made of 225 pounds of dough, and included not only 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. but the entire Mall.
“This is a joyous time of year when we decorate the White House for the Christmas season,” the first lady said in an official statement. “Our theme honors the heart and spirit of the American people . . . . On behalf of my family, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
On the second year of Trump Christmas, the first lady decided not to appear in person to unveil the work of her staff and volunteers, a gig first ladies since at least as far back as Nancy Reagan made a part of their official White House duties.
Over the years, first ladies have appeared in blinking Christmas tree pins and emerald green dresses. Some served long buffet tables of artisan cheeses, lamb chops and spiked eggnog that would be on the menus of that year’s holiday parties. Sometimes the artist of the official White House Christmas card would be introduced, or the White House chief florist would be around to answer questions.
Sometimes it wasn’t all festive. Facing reporters at the 1986 media preview of holiday decorations, Reagan denied that she and President Ronald Reagan had been bickering over whether Chief of Staff Donald Regan should be fired.