First Lady Melania Trump has unveiled the White House’s Christmas decorations - to mixed reviews.
This year’s festive theme, American Treasures, pays tribute to the nation’s heritage and feature more than 14,000 red ornaments hanging from 29 trees, some of them blood red. There are also gingerbread versions of monuments including the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol building and, of course, the White House.
“This is a joyous time of year when we decorate the White House for the Christmas Season,” the first lady said in a statement.
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“Our theme honours the heart and spirit of the American people. Thank you to the many volunteers and staff who worked hard to decorate the halls of the People’s House in Christmas cheer. On behalf of my family, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
The White House will hold 100 “open house days”, during which more than 30,000 visitors will tour the decorative rooms and hallways.
But not everyone is taken with the display. The “towering blood-red cones” are a “macabre take on ‘trees’ that taints what might have been a bounty of winter fruit with the flavor of death”, says Slate.
Doubts were also cast on last year’s White House Christmas decorations, which followed the theme of Time-Honoured Traditions, adds the AOL news site. But Twitter users are giving the latest offering even shorter shrift, comparing it to everything from ground meat to scenes from The Handmaid’s Tale.
Click on the gallery above to see what you think.