The White House has been decorated for Christmas with care and first lady Melania Trump has unveiled its patriotic theme, which contain nods to the first family’s various interests, the president’s love of buildings, her ‘Be Best’ campaign and Barron Trump’s love of soccer.
The theme is ‘American Treasures,’ the East Wing announced Monday morning, adding that the decor will honor the ‘unique heritage of America.’
‘This is a joyous time of year when we decorate the White House for the Christmas Season,’ the first lady said in a statement. ‘Our theme honors 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.’
First lady Melania Trump unveiled the White House Christmas theme Monday
The official White House Christmas Tree is decorated in 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon embroidered in gold with each state and territory
The official White House holiday card features the signatures of the president, first lady and Barron Trump
The first lady designed the theme and layout, focusing on the spirit of patriotism, the East Wing said.
And the colors red, white and blue dominate the decorations, seen in a video Melania Trump posted to her Twitter feed, which shows the first lady walking through the White House and examining the results of hundreds of volunteers, who decorated the residence while the first family where in West Palm Beach over Thanksgiving.
There are several decorative themes that touch on the first family’s personal interests.
The White House’s Red Room, which is designed to appeal to children, features ‘Be Best’ ornaments, the first lady’s signature initiative, and soccer ball ornaments, likely a nod to Barron Trump’s love of the game.
The tree in there is filled with items Barron Trump would love, including the soccer ball ornament and cell phone ornaments. The tree also has ornaments paying tribute to kids’ favorite activities, including a skate board, a karate uniform, a film board clapper, cheese pieces, ice skates, books and a baseball glove.
The mantle is covered in white ornaments with Be Best written in red and white, all part of the first lady’s signature campaign.
One set of ornaments pays tribute to the first lady’s Be Best campaign
A soccer ball ornament is likely in tribute to Barron Trump’s love of the game
There is a wreath made of Be Best pencils
Melania Trump posted a video on her Twitter feed showing her examining the decorations
The tree in the Red Room features items of interest to children including ornaments in the shape of skate boards, film clapper boards and karate uniforms
One ornament features the Seal of the State of Washington, which contains a portrait of George Washington
This year’s theme is ‘American Treasures,’ which will honor the ‘unique heritage of America,’ the East Wing announced Monday morning
There’s also wreathes made out of Be Best pencils in each of the two windows in the room.
In the East Room, are custom mantelpieces showcasing the skylines of New York City, St. Louis, Chicago, and San Francisco with their distinctive buildings.
President Donald Trump began his career in real estate, building buildings in some of those cities.
The Chicago skyline appears to feature Trump Tower.
Throughout December, the White House will host more than 100 open houses with more than 30,000 visitors taking public tours, the East Wing noted.
The official White House Christmas card is green with a gold etching of the White House on its cover. It features the signatures of the president, the first lady and 12-year-old Barron Trump.
The ground floor and the first floor are filled with decorations, trees, ribbons, lights and ornaments. No fire place mantel goes undecorated with greenery and lights covering them.
The official White House Christmas tree in Blue Room, which stands 18 feet tall, is covered in red ornaments, blue ribbons and white lights.
The Trump International Hotel and Tower in downtown Chicago appears to be in the city’s skyline in the East Room of the White House
The New York City skyline etching features the Statue of Liberty and a horse-drawn carriage
San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge dominates its etching
The St. Louis Arch is featured prominently in its etching
The 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon are embroidered in gold with each state and territory.
More than 40 red Christmas trees will greet people in East colonnade where they enter to start the tour.
The trees are made of cranberries and other berries strung together.
The famous gingerbread White House used 225 lbs. of gingerbread in its making.
But the display this year has been widen to include the full expanse of the National Mall: the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the White House.
In the East Room is the Gold Star Family tree. Decorated by Gold Star families, who have lost a loved one in the military, the tree honors all U.S. troops and their families.
Gold stars and patriotic ribbon decorate the tree and visitors are encouraged to write messages to their loved ones who are on duty or abroad on the digital tablets provided.
The four trees in the White House library pay tribute to the White House Historical Association’s 2018 ornament honoring President Harry S. Truman.
The official White House Christmas tree stands 18 feet tall
Its 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon are embroidered in gold with each state and territory
Holiday candy will be given to some visitors
The Official 2018 White House Christmas Ornament
Melania Trump designed the decorative theme
The Red Room celebrates the youth of America and highlights the way children can excel in their own ways
At the base of the Christmas tree in the Red room is a frame of ‘Be Best’ pencils
The trees also contain ornaments representing all the states, featuring the state seals on them.
The Vermeil room displays two trees decorated in blues and golds.
Inside the China Room are three tables, all replicas from previous state dinners using pieces from the White House permanent collection, highlighting the Theodore Roosevelt Administration, John Kennedy Administration, and Donald Trump Administration.
In the East Room, 72 handmade paper ornaments representing six regions across America hang from four 14-foot Noble fir trees.
For the 51st year, the White House Crèche – Nativity scene- will also be on display.
The Green Room pays tribute to the American farmer with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains decorating the room.
The State Dining Room is a celebration of our country’s national symbols, including the bald eagle, the rose, and the oak tree.
The grand foyer and hall contain more than 14,000 red ornaments hanging from 29 trees. Red is the symbol of valor and bravery, the East Wing notes.
Inside this year’s Christmas at the White House booklet is Melania Trump’s recipe for her Star Sugar Cookies as well as step-by-step instructions on how to make a cranberry tree.
Red Christmas trees greet visits when they enter the East Colonnade
The trees are made of cranberries and red berries strung together
Last year’s East colonnade featured white trees, which people on social media found scary
For the 51st year, the White House Crèche – Nativity scene – will also be on display
A portrait of former first lady Lady Bird Johnson sits in the Vermeil Room above a mantel, which was decorated with garland and pear ornaments
Garland wrapped with lights and red bows decorates the Grand Staircase
The Grand Foyer and Cross Hall are filled with Christmas trees that are adorned with lights and red ornaments
Following the unveiling of the decorations, people have been taking to Twitter to criticize the first lady for celebrating the holiday season while children are being tear-gassed at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Migrants who approached the U.S. border from Mexico on Sunday were enveloped with tear gas as a few tried to breach the fence separating the two countries.
U.S. agents shot the gas, according to an Associated Press reporter on the scene. Children were screaming and coughing in the mayhem.
While photos from the distressing scene caused outrage online, President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Monday morning threaten to close the border permanently.
‘Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!’ he tweeted.
Just a few hours later, Melania Trump posted a video and some photos of the administration’s holiday decor, which some thought was in poor taste.
‘Thanks for the holiday inspo, @FLOTUS! this year, all we want is for your husband to stop tear-gassing kids,’ tweeted Full Frontal, Samantha Bee’s late-night show.
‘What a great way to start the Holiday Season ….. tear gassing young children at the Southern border. #HeartlessAtTheHolidays,’ Alison L. Dunn responded.
The White House will host more than 100 open houses with more than 30,000 visitors taking public tours
This year’s theme, picked by the first lady, is ‘America’s Treasures’
The famous gingerbread White House used 225 lbs. of gingerbread in its making. But the display this year has been widened to include the full expanse of the National Mall: the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the White House
Little wreaths with red bows hand in the windows of the meticulous creation
The wreaths on the gingerbread house match the ones hanging from the White House windows
Inside the China Room are three tables, all replicas from previous state dinners using pieces from the White House permanent collection, highlighting the Theodore Roosevelt Administration, John Kennedy Administration, and Donald Trump Administration
Melania’s recipe for Star Sugar Cookies (left) is shared in the Christmas at the White House booklet, as are tips for creating your own version of the cranberry trees seen in the East Colonnade (right)
The United States Marine Band played in the Grand Foyer during the 2018 Christmas preview at the White House on Monday
Melania Trump tweeted photos of White House volunteers preparing Christmas decorations on Saturday. One image shows a volunteer attaching Christmas lights to trimming that is placed over a doorway
Another photo shows a woman placing ornaments on a Christmas tree
‘Thank you to all the volunteers from across our great nation who are working hard to decorate the White House,’ the first lady tweeted on Saturday
Another person called the lavish decorations ‘historically ludicrous,’ noting ‘that money could house four refugee families.’
‘Marie Antoinette anyone?’ someone else asked.
However, one person insisted it was hypocritical to judge the Trump administration for trying to keep the holiday spirit during such turbulent times.
‘So what should be done? We could stop Christmas due to wars, famine, fires in California? Did you criticize Obama when he didn’t stop his Christmas tradition due to all the stuff going on elsewhere around the world?’ the person asked. ‘I highly doubt you stopped celebrating holidays too.’
Others praised Melania Trump for the decoratios.
‘@FLOTUS you did a spectacular job!! Thanks you & your staff for decorating the people’s house so beautifully!! Definitely the perfect kick off to the magical, whimsical season!!!!’ one fan tweeted.
There were also a few people who couldn’t resist poking fun at the decorations.
‘Those red trees look like Handmaids, Atwood style,’ one person wrote, another added: ‘Not a fan of the red trees. But glad they recycled Donald’s old ties.’