Melania Trump is defending the blood-red Christmas trees arranged in the White House, which drew criticism online and mockery online.
“We are in 21st century and everybody has a different taste,” she said when the issue arose during a panel at Liberty University. “I think they look fantastic.”
“I hope everybody will come over and visit it. In real life they look even more beautiful.”
The forest of 40 red topiary trees in the East Colonnade had been roundly criticized since they were unveiled Monday along with the rest of the White House’s Christmas decorations.
Trump said in a statement at the time that this year’s holiday theme of “American Treasures” “honors the heart and spirit of the American people.”
Others disagreed, likening the colors of the trees to blood.
Lady Melania wanted to send a message.
"Take the blood of my enemies and paint the trees. Send it to the village for the Winter Harvest Festival as warning. Let no one ever cross me again. Be Best."
"Be Best, my Lady," the underling replied and scurried away. pic.twitter.com/WXkj6ygfBN [1]
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) November 26, 2018 [2]
Melania inspects this year's White House Christmas trees, which were watered all year with the blood of children in internment camps. On Christmas Eve, ICE will distribute lumps of clean coal to the survivors. pic.twitter.com/jFRXqUIjPf [3]
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) November 26, 2018 [4]
#Melania [5] and her blood red #Christmas [6] trees. This looks like a scene out of the shining or some gothic tale where the trees weep blood. A real life nightmare before Christmas. Now we know where the gates of Hell are located. #MondayMorning [7] pic.twitter.com/2l5Sji6uvc [8]
— Sydney Chandler (@syds180turn) November 26, 2018 [9]
How festive! Melania’s trees are covered in blood this year! pic.twitter.com/2xSoSSH4XA [10]
— Ana Bretón (@missbreton) November 26, 2018 [11]
staff: let's not do the tunnel of horrors again for christmas, ms. trump, let's do something else. what do you think?
melania: blood red trees
staff:
melania: BLOOD RED TREES pic.twitter.com/8GaJsh9tIw [12]— tyler (@tylerc) November 26, 2018 [13]
One Twitter user photoshopped an image of the trees to resemble handmaids from “The Handmaids Tale,” a symbol which has become an emblem of resistance on the left.
Someone did this to Melania Trump’s creepy Christmas trees, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted today. pic.twitter.com/MwigcZxswR [14]
— Dana Goldberg (@DGComedy) November 26, 2018 [15]
WATCH:
First lady Melania Trump responds to critiques of her red Christmas trees: "We are in 21st century and everybody has a different taste. I think they look fantastic. I hope everyone will come over and visit it. In real life they look even more beautiful" https://t.co/BXFiQF87NN [16] pic.twitter.com/rLvmYIDwhZ [17]
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) November 28, 2018 [18]