The spectacle of the White House’s Grand Foyer, bedecked with Christmas finery for the supposed 2023 theme ‘Magic, Wonder, and Joy,’ was just another over-the-top spectacle in the nation’s capital. The event, held on the 27th of November, 2023, was yet another attempt by the current administration to reroute the public’s attention from more pressing issues. Instead of spending time on these grand scales, it could be argued that more attention needs to be dedicated to the problems plaguing our country.
HGTV, jumping on the bandwagon, went on to reveal they would provide an exclusive walkthrough of the Christmas decor for the year 2024. The catch? It was being guided by none other than the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden. As though her credentials as a professor somehow qualified her to become an interior decorator. One wonders about the actual qualifications of those that take center stage in such theatrics.
Dr. Biden was kind enough to offer her words of wisdom with the hosts from HGTV, Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt. She went on to elaborate on her grand vision that birthed the theme and decor for the White House’s Christmas decorations. Who knew that political science would branch out into interior decor and themes of ‘holiday joy’?
Being the center of such ostentatious decorations, ‘White House Christmas 2024’ aired on a Sunday, December 15, at 6 p.m. ET. Instead of focusing on how the country could promote peace and prosperity, the hour-long broadcast was occupied revealing the ‘insight’ of Dr. Jill Biden on her extravagant decoration choices.
As the special aired, Dr. Biden showed Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt around, explaining the theme she had chosen for the decor – ‘A Season of Peace and Light.’ Given the current state of affairs in the country, it seems as though ‘peace and light’ could have been better brought about by focusing on policies that lead to actual peace, rather than just serving as themes for a festive decoration.
HGTV, in keeping up with the show’s spectacle, released some trivial facts ahead of the broadcast. A staggering 300 volunteers from all over the country were involved in bringing the overstated theme to life. Would these efforts have not been better directed at helping those in need in our society?
Let’s move onto the actual decor. The grand tally came to 165,075 holiday lights and not less than 83 Christmas trees. The blinking lights and excess of trees seem to echo the current administration’s propensity for excessive and unnecessary extravagance. The total number of ornaments that brightened those trees was an astounding 28,125. It really makes one wonder where all this money came from, and whether it couldn’t be better spent.
A jaw-dropping 9,810 feet of ribbon were used throughout the house’s decor. The level of excess screams louder than any festivity possibly could. A staggering 2,200 doves were placed around the decorating area. One would think we were celebrating Christmas in a bird sanctuary, or setting the scene for an Alfred Hitchcock film.
The year 2024 also saw the Gingerbread White House making an appearance, and the statistics accompanied with that were just as ridiculous. Just to garnish the base, as many as 25 sheets of gingerbread dough were used. That’s a lot of gingerbread for a decoration that only lasts for a fraction of a year.
To complete this unnecessarily grandiose masterpiece, there was the use of 50 pounds of royal icing and an additional 45 pounds of chocolate. While it is an impressive feat, it’s another example of the over-indulgence that we’ve come to expect from the current administration.
Heavy on statistics and spectacle, but light on significance, that’s what comes to mind when summarizing the ‘White House Christmas 2024.’ But do not fret, dear reader, for you can get the full rundown of this festival of flamboyance tonight, December 15, at 6/5c on HGTV.
From this excessive display, it seems that the current administration’s strategy is to blind the American public with twinkling lights, rather than addressing the more pressing issues of our time. While ‘Magic, Wonder, and Joy’ may be a lovely theme for a children’s book, it does little to ease the mounting concerns of real-world issues.
Joe Biden’s administration seems to have no qualms about throwing extravagant, over-the-top holiday festivities, distracting from the pressing policies they should be focusing on. The focus appears to have shifted from the needs of the Americans to grand decors and festive themes.
When Christmas becomes a spectacle rather than a time to be spent with family, it’s clear that the true meaning of the holiday has been lost. The ‘A Season of Peace and Light’ decor could have been more appropriately used as a theme for a foreign policy strategy that promotes peace and assists those in need, rather than simply as holiday decor.
In conclusion, ‘White House Christmas 2024’ serves as a stark reminder of the misplaced priorities of the Biden administration. While the twinkling lights and shiny decorations may dazzle some into distractedness, it is essential for the rest of us to keep our focus on what truly matters: the actual issues facing the American people and the policies that need to be addressed. The administration could benefit from taking that perspective into consideration next time they aim their sights towards creating the ‘perfect’ Christmas decor.