Despite being out of the spotlight during husband Donald Trump’s very public presidential campaign and legal battles, former First Lady Melania Trump has returned to the national stage—and for a very surprising reason.
Melania, who has been absent from the campaign trail due to being a “private person” post-White House, made the surprise announcement last week that she would be releasing a line of Christmas ornaments ahead of the 2023 holidays; an announcement that surprised many considering her controversial comments in audio from 2018 in which she said, in part, “Who gives a f— about Christmas stuff and decoration?”
Melania Trump Releases Christmas Ornament Line
Melania announced the upcoming Christmas decor line on Twitter/X last week, posting that "I am pleased to continue USA Memorabilia’s tradition of celebrating the season with A Red, White and Blue Christmas. This year, I found myself looking to my love for our great nation for inspiration. May everyone experience an abundance of peace & love during the holiday season." The tweet linked to the collection of 5 ornaments at USA Memorabilia.
I am pleased to continue USA Memorabilia’s tradition of celebrating the season with A Red, White and Blue Christmas. This year, I found myself looking to my love for our great nation for inspiration. May everyone experience an abundance of peace & love during the holiday season.… pic.twitter.com/DZN42LJdLv
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) September 14, 2023
Other ornaments in the businesswoman's line include similarly red, white and blue themed holiday decor including a star, a United States map image with the American flag superimposed over the country, an ornament reading "Love, Peace, Faith" in red, white and blue text over gold, a gold frame with flag decals, and a red, white and blue old-fashioned train with holiday garlands.
The collection's page at USA Memorabilia shares that "A Red, White and Blue Christmas Collection includes five limited edition Christmas ornaments with corresponding digital collectibles." The page also details, "Former First Lady Melania Trump's signature is included on each ornament; and the ornaments are proudly handcrafted in the United States. Each 3D animated digital collectible corresponds with the respective ornament."
Holiday Decor Line Surprises Public After Former First Lady's Controversial 'Anti-Christmas' Comments
The Christmas-themed ornament line came as a bit of a shock to wider social media, considering Melania's memorable off-the-record comments about the holiday and, in particular, holiday decorating. Audio from 2018 released in 2020 by former aide Stephanie Winston Wolkoff contained Mrs. Trump recorded saying that "I’m working like a, my a-- off at Christmas stuff," in reference to the fact that, as First Lady, she was expected to decorate the White House for the holidays.
In 2018 she had debuted a particularly contentious decoration theme for the holiday season, with blood-red Christmas trees lining the halls of the presidential home. The decorating scheme drew a lot of criticism at the time, with Vogue writing that "FLOTUS has chosen a theme more inspired by hall than a holly, jolly Christmas." Referring to the public reaction to her holiday decorating, Melania went on to say in the released recordings that "You know, who gives a f--- about Christmas stuff and decoration but I need to do it, right?"
The former model's announcement of the Christmas ornament line was her first tweet since a brief 9/11 tribute earlier this month; prior to that, she hadn't shared anything on social media since early August. In explaining why Melania hadn't been seen supporting her husband's re-election bid on the 2024 campaign trail, Donald Trump has explained that she's a "private person" who prefers staying away from politics because "it's so nasty and so mean."
