The White House is slamming what it’s calling the media’s “annual holiday tradition” of criticizing Melania Trump.
“It has become an annual holiday tradition for the media to attack all that the first lady does,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Tuesday.
“If this was a Democratic administration, I suspect Mrs. Trump and her work would be featured positively in every mainstream news outlet,” said Grisham.
The spokeswoman for the first lady and Donald Trump didn’t specify on the record when asked if she was referring to any particular outlet’s coverage. But Flood included a link to an article by Washington Post [1] fashion critic Robin Givhan titled “Melania Trump’s Christmas decorations are lovely, but that coat looks ridiculous.”
"It has become an annual holiday tradition for the media to attack all that the First Lady does. If this was a Democratic Administration, I suspect Mrs. Trump and her work would be featured positively in every mainstream news outlet," Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham told me https://t.co/VyA35VXcJY [2]
— Brian Flood (@briansflood) December 3, 2019 [3]
The piece tweaked Trump’s sartorial choice in a video released earlier this week by the White House unveiling the annual holiday decorations at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Givhan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, called the white coat Trump wore draped over her shoulders while revealing the “Spirit of America” theme a “distraction,” writing, “In a video that is intended to celebrate the warmth and welcoming spirit of the holiday season, that simple flourish exudes cold, dismissive aloofness.”
“The Spirit of America” is shining in the @WhiteHouse [4]! I am delighted to share this beautiful exhibit of patriotism for all to see, and excited for everyone to experience the beauty of the #Christmas [5] season! pic.twitter.com/qGxxl9qBrd [6]
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 2, 2019 [7]
Melania Trump has raised some eyebrows with her bold choices for past White House Christmas decorations.
For 2019, she opted for a patriotic, predominantly bright-and-white holiday theme — unveiling her choices this week in a moment of ceremony for the Trump administration amid the brewing impeachment conflict between President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress.
The decorations will be on public display throughout December.
The White House described the choices by Melania Trump as celebrating “the courageous individuals who have shaped our country and kept the American spirit alive.”
Last year’s holiday decor drew online criticism by people who compared the unusual choice of all-red Christmas trees to the flood of blood in the 1980 horror film The Shining. Under the theme “American Treasures,” the 2018 decor included the crimson evergreens lining the East colonnade, which also attracted comparisons to the costumes of The Handmaid’s Tale — and, according to Trump critics, parallels between his conservative politics and the show’s misogynistic dystopia.
During an appearance at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, shortly after the internet backlash last year, Melania defended the design, saying “everybody has a different taste.”
“I think they look fantastic,” she said at the time. “I hope everybody will come over and visit it. In real life, they look even more beautiful. You are all welcome to visit the White House, the people’s house.”
The White House had previously explained the motif in a statement: “The choice of red is an extension of the pales, or stripes, found in the presidential seal designed by our Founding Fathers. It’s a symbol of valor and bravery.”
But it appears Twitter finds the decorations awful:
There is even a The Shining-like cameo from two random people dressed like either chefs or grand wizards. pic.twitter.com/AlTYba4P5w [8]
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) December 2, 2019 [9]
This is the creepiest not-intended-to-be-creepy #Christmas [5]… thing I've ever seen. It looks like what would happen if you uploaded all the Hallmark movies into the homicidal fembot from EX-MACHINA and gave her a line of credit at William Sonoma.#ChristmasWhiteHouse2019 [10] https://t.co/0op6ciNmqM [11]
— Bob Chipman (@the_moviebob) December 2, 2019 [12]
I got a warmer feeling watching Danny roam the halls at the Overlook in The Shining. https://t.co/xL6ZYDt0RY [13]
— Fiona Adorno (@FionaAdorno) December 2, 2019 [14]
Shining is right. As in The Shining. REDRUM…..
Last year it was Night of the Living Red Xmas Trees. Now, the set from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Can't you, just once, not do the Tim Burton school of decorating? https://t.co/IERyoRNVp4 [15]
— Howard (@HowardA_Esq) December 2, 2019 [16]
Melania's unveiled this year's WH Christmas decor. The theme is Soap Opera Star Striding Through An 80s Department Store Looking For A Restroom pic.twitter.com/Y9te7IheqE [17]
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) December 2, 2019 [18]
What is she even doing here?
I mean, some poor sap carefully piled up that fake snow and here come’s Melania sprinkling it like its freaking magic dust from Santa’s L’il Sweatshop.
This person doesn’t understand even the concept of a human Christmas tree. pic.twitter.com/zTXIpcq18Q [19]
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) December 2, 2019 [20]