White House Christmas decoration winks at first responders



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WASHINGTON (AP) – First responders and frontline workers challenged by the deadly coronavirus pandemic are highlighted in White House Christmas decorations which also give a special nod to the redesigned rose garden of Melania Trump.

It’s the last Christmas in the White House for the Trump family, though the president continues to insist – despite evidence to the contrary – that he won the November 3 election. President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in on January 20.

The first lady declared that “America the beautiful” was her theme for decor, and that it was inspired by Americans’ shared appreciation “for our traditions, our values ​​and our history.”

Frontline workers in a pandemic that has killed more than 266,000 people in the United States and infected more than 13 million others are recognized in the red room with a Christmas tree dotted with hand-made ornaments, as well than other decorations around the living room.

The Gingerbread White House – a sweet candy made with over 400 pounds (181 kilograms) of dough, gum paste, chocolate, and royal icing – is on display in the State Dining Room and includes for the first time the Rose Garden, which is the newly renovated first ladyand the First Ladies’ Garden.

The ornaments on the official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room – a Fraser Fir from Shepherdstown, West Virginia, which stands over 5.49 meters tall – were designed by students at National Park Service asked to describe what makes their statements look good.

A male and a crane are depicted in three-dimensional works of art hanging from the windows of the Green Room, where American wildlife is the highlight. Classical urns lining a walkway in the east wing contain clusters of foliage from different parts of the country.

Trees and other decorations in the East Room feature planes, trains and automobiles – including models of Air Force One – in a nod to triumphs in innovation and technology. Gifts wrapped under decorated trees that line Cross Hall’s labels marked “peace”, “love”, “faith” and “joy”.

The Christmas decor unveiling on Monday came weeks after Ms Trump was heard on an audio recording using profanity as she complained about the pressure of having to decorate for the holidays in the past. The recording of the July 2018 conversation was made and aired on CNN by Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who was fired from the White House earlier that year.

Wolkoff published a revealing book about his friendship and breakup with Ms Trump, which Wolkoff blames for not standing up for her after questions arose about spending for Trump’s 2017 inauguration, which Wolkoff helped to produce.

This year, some 125 volunteers from across the country used 62 trees, 106 wreaths, over 366 yards of garland, over 3,200 strands of lights and 17,000 arches to decorate the 132-room White House over Thanksgiving weekend. . .

The library is decorated to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. Stockings for the president, the first lady and their 14-year-old son Barron hang from a fireplace in the room where presidential porcelain designs are displayed.

After viewing the media decorations, the White House scheduled the first of many holiday receptions on Monday that are expected to be smaller in size given coronavirus concerns.

A few miles north of the White House, the wrapper also came off the Christmas decorations at Vice President Mike Pence’s official residence on the grounds of the Naval Observatory.

Karen Pence said “Old Fashioned Christmas” was their theme. The house is decorated with natural and rustic elements including pine cones, seasonal berries, burlap, galvanized aluminum and checkered tape, as well as seven Christmas trees and 35 wreaths.

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