Melania Trump is, on balance, a well-dressed woman. Putting aside your thoughts on her and her husband’s politics, it’s hard to argue that she doesn’t usually show up looking presentable – whether she’s offending people with her clothes or not.
And so it seems strange that year after year Donald and Melania Trump’s home is decorated in the creepiest way. Who can forget the strange ‘Time Honoured Traditions’ theme of last year where Melania descended from some stairs only to have her path blocked by two ballerinas performing to Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.
The whole idea in 2017 was to honour Presidents past – the dancers were a nod to Jackie Kennedy’s first themed Christmas, 1961’s ‘Nutcracker Suite’; the tree a tribute to Gold Star military families, while Ronald Reagan’s china and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vintage edition of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol also made an appearance.
This year the theme is ‘American Treasures’ with a layout designed by Melania herself featuring 40 huge red trees lining the East Wing hallway.
While the trees have been widely mocked, the red is reportedly supposed to represent the stripes of the presidential seal which signify valor and bravery.
The trees are just one frightening element of the design, the White House Christmas tree is the traditional green, covered with 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon embroidered with gold.
Whatever the meaning behind the red trees, the memes don’t show any signs of stopping. Extra props for this Handmaid’s Tale photoshop masterpiece.