Ah, it’s that time of year again, Christmas season at the White House — not “holiday season” because President Donald Trump has let everyone know how he feels about that. As is White House tradition, the first lady selects the annual Christmas tree and decorations, and this year was no different. For the second year into her husband’s term in office, the presidential holiday decorations were selected by Melania Trump and unveiled in an official White House video.
The first lady likewise tweeted photos of the festive display:
The @WhiteHouse is sparkling for the Christmas season! pic.twitter.com/ncNhlkZAWl
— Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) November 26, 2018
And also for the second year in a row, Melania’s, shall we say, unusual taste in decor is largely being mocked online. This year’s decorations prominently feature the slogan for Ms. Trump’s ironic anti-bullying campaign on ornaments and in a wreath made out of pencils, among the glittering display. There’s also some tall red trees that not-so-subtly resemble characters from a certain dystopian Hulu series that may or may not reflect disturbing authoritarian rhetoric that her president has floated during his time in office.
So between the Handmaid’s Tale trees, noticeable absence of the Donald, and everything else, people are making some pointed observations on Twitter.
why r u alone https://t.co/U6oa1pLUS6
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 26, 2018
They sure do. pic.twitter.com/xeffcGJPwV
— Very Legal and Very Cool Elayne (@chatelaineri) November 26, 2018
Melania's Christmas decorations look like they're straight out of the Shining pic.twitter.com/mVMY7yuxIZ
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) November 26, 2018
HEEEEEEEERE'S MELANIA. pic.twitter.com/BksX0L3SRh
— Dr Fern Riddell (@FernRiddell) November 26, 2018
The image of Melania walking alone through the bloody handmaid trees seriously made my morning pic.twitter.com/4KQOFPDIEI
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) November 26, 2018
Someone did this to Melania Trump’s creepy Christmas trees, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted today. pic.twitter.com/MwigcZxswR
— Dana Goldberg (@DGComedy) November 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/aric/status/1067094818503962624
— Telepathy Test Human #3 (@cuneform) November 26, 2018
Thanks for the holiday inspo, @FLOTUS! This year, all we want is for your husband to stop tear-gassing kids. https://t.co/YgPyhzkuYf
— Samantha Bee (@realsambee) November 26, 2018
The new White House Christmas decorations video is here, and this time Melania’s installed a whole hallway full of… (checks notes)… blood trees? pic.twitter.com/UjOxnnqa7x
— William Bibbiani (@WilliamBibbiani) November 26, 2018
Melania is dutifully overseeing decorations for this year's Jacob's Ladder themed Christmas at the White House. pic.twitter.com/6O4ZEiQhpT
— Maggie Serota (@maggieserota) November 26, 2018
Meanwhile, folks can probably guess Melania’s reaction to the criticism of her ornaments. Merry Christmas?