Melania welcomes White House tree after being caught on tape saying ‘who gives a f***’ about Christmas
Decorating mansion will be her final official act as first lady
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Melania Trump was all smiles as she welcomed her family’s final Christmas tree to the White House.
The maskless first lady appeared in the festive spirit despite being caught on tape earlier this year complaining “who gives a f*** about Christmas stuff.”
Decorating the historic mansion will be her final major job as first lady before Dr Jill Biden takes over the role in January.
The giant 18.5 ft tall Fraser Fir was delivered by a wagon pulled by two Clydesdale horses, named Winston and Ben.
Ms Trump walked around the wagon to inspect the tree, which will adorn the Blue Room.
“Merry Christmas,” said Ms Trump as she smiled and waved for the cameras during the brief event.
The first lady’s office will also soon officially unveil the White House Christmas decorations.
Earlier this year Ms Trump’s former friend and advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff released an audio recording in which Melania complained about the job of decorating the White House for the holidays.
Ms Wolkoff has written a book about their friendship called Melania and Me.
The secretly recorded conversation reportedly took place not long after Melania visited an immigration detention facility in Texas in June 2018.
"They say I'm complicit. I'm the same like him, I support him. I don't say enough I don't do enough where I am," she complained on the tape.
"I'm working ... my a** off on the Christmas stuff, that you know, who gives a f*** about the Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right?”
"Okay, and then I do it and I say that I'm working on Christmas and planning for the Christmas and they said, 'Oh, what about the children that they were separated?'
“Give me a f****** break. Were they were saying anything when Obama did that?
“I can not go, I was trying get the kid reunited with the mom. I didn't have a chance, needs to go through the process and through the law.”
Ms Trump’s s chief of staff Stephanie Grisham blasted Ms Wolkoff for releasing the tape and claimed she had broken her NDA in publishing the book.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments