For four years Melania Trump was reluctant to decorate the White House – this Christmas it’s Jill Biden’s turn.
Washington – It was that time again: the annual unveiling of the Christmas decorations in the White House was due. What was supposed to be just a side note of the presidential couple’s activities turned into a real culture war during the Trump administration. When the first lady at the time, Melania Trump, decorated the hallways of her house with the infamous blood-red trees in 2018 and when Donald Trump’s wife came to the public last year in which she disrespectfully expressed: ” Who the hell is interested in Christmas stuff and decorations? “
Jill Biden has opted for a much more harmonious path and uses her first year in office to present “gifts from the heart”, at least the official Christmas theme in 2021. And so it happened that the former US President Donald Trump did it back to the White House – at least in the form of a photo on his successor Joe Biden’s Christmas tree.
Donald and Melania Trump: Framed in gold
The gold-framed picture of Trump and his wife Melania is part of the Christmas decoration of the US President’s official residence presented on Monday. There are also photos of other former US presidents and their wives, from Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama, hanging on the Christmas tree in the state banquet room.
The fact that the Trump couple are so honored could be seen as a Christmas offer of reconciliation. Biden and Trump had a bitterly led election campaign for the presidency of the United States last year. The Republican Trump has not admitted his electoral defeat to this day and continues to spread the often refuted conspiracy story of massive electoral fraud. The Trump couple also refused the Biden couple the traditional invitation to tea in the White House before the new president took office – a clear break with custom.
Donald Trump: $ 10,000 for a photo with the president
However, the dispute is not reflected in this year’s Christmas decoration of the White House. Photos of Trump were also hung in other locations in the president’s office. According to a spokesman, a total of 41 Christmas trees were set up, more than 1,800 meters of decorative ribbon were used, 300 candles were set up and fairy lights with more than 78,750 lights were attached. More than a hundred volunteers worked on the decoration for a week.
Regardless, and despite Melania Trump’s documented dislike of tinsel and wreaths, the Trumps plan to unveil their own Christmas decorations on December 3rd at a fundraiser in Naples, Florida. Admission is $ 10,000 per person, which allows for entry to the party and “a photo with the president,” according to the event website. Despite the high price, you have to do without the White House as a backdrop. (skr / afp)
Rubriklistenbild: © Evan Vucci/dpa
