Melania Trump defends controversial White House holiday decorations: 'I think they look fantastic'
Melania Trump complimented the “fantastic” White House Christmas decorations after the patriotic color scheme triggered protests on social media.
On Wednesday, the first lady engaged in a panel discussion at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., ranked No. 1 on a Most Conservative Colleges in America list in 2017. She was dressed in a charcoal-colored pantsuit, a black top and metallic heels.
“We are in 21st century, and everybody has a different taste,” Melania said. “I think they look fantastic. I hope everybody will come over and visit it. In real life, they look even more beautiful, and you are all very welcome to visit the White House, the People’s House.”
Melania was responding to the social media pandemonium on Monday after she tweeted a 57-second video of this year’s extravagant holiday decorations, including more than 40 topiary trees — many of which were dyed bright red — 72 handmade paper ornaments and the official White House Christmas tree, an 18-foot fir wrapped in 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon.
The opulent decorations were hammered as ridiculous and a waste of money, and many said the red trees were reminiscent of bloodshed, particularly in the wake of Border Patrol agents using tear gas to disperse a group of 500 adults and children at the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday. The White House said the attack was a response to caravan members throwing “projectiles” that hit U.S. Border Patrol officials.
The People’s House @WhiteHouse is ready to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season! pic.twitter.com/oejKW3mC15
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) November 26, 2018
The @WhiteHouse is sparkling for the Christmas season! pic.twitter.com/ncNhlkZAWl
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) November 26, 2018
The 48-year-old also commented on her private life with President Trump. “In the evenings, we try to get together, have dinner,” she said, adding, “When you’re first lady, you have no free time.” She was also asked whether she had time to “make a casserole or something,” and Melania answered, “Not really. … We can do that maybe in the future when I’m a little less busy.”
Another subject was social media etiquette, a cornerstone of her “Be Best” campaign (along with opioid use and well-being), with Melania remarking that it’s important to be “respectful and kind. … And also sometimes you need to fight back, I’m sorry.”
On the topic of opioid abuse, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls an “epidemic,” Melania said, “When I took on opioid abuse as one of the pillars of my initiative ‘Be Best,’ I did it with the goal of helping children of all ages.” As first lady, she has visited many hospitals and facilities dedicated to helping those affected by the disease. “What has struck me with each visit is how this epidemic has touched so many people — whether it is because of personal use, or that of family members, friends, co-workers or neighbors — opioid addiction is an illness that has truly taken hold of our country,” she said.
Other panel members included Demi Lovato’s mother, Dianna Hart, (Lovato has struggled publicly with a drug addiction), Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and former Fox News host and moderator Eric Bolling, whose son died in 2017 from an accidental drug overdose.
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. told the school newspaper that his wife, Becki, organized the event, texting the first lady a personal invite.
Liberty students are allowed to carry concealed guns on campus — even in residence halls — the latter of which was decided after the San Bernardino mass shooting in 2015. The Falwells recently attended a party at the White House ahead of the results of the midterm elections, posing for photos with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.
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