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.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“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.
-
Quiz of The Week: 18 – 24 OctoberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Will Grace Wales Bonner change Hermès for the better?Podcast Plus will nuclear fusion deliver us from climate change? Is humour the best way to take on Trump?
-
The week’s best photosIn Pictures A fluffy hug, a toppled tower, and more
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
‘The trickle of shutdowns could soon become a flood’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartelsspeed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
White House joins GOP speech policing, citing KirkSpeed Read Yesterday’s developments ‘underscore the extraordinary amount of time and resources’ the White House has dedicated to advancing Kirk’s legacy
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to TrumpSpeed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Why are Trump's health rumors about more than just presidential fitness?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Extended absences and unexplained bruises have raised concerns about both his well-being and his administration's transparency
