In a move that could be seen as an attempt to divert attention from pressing issues, Jill Biden, the First Lady, and wife of President Joe Biden, has been involved in the funeral-resistant holiday decorations conflict. She recently received the official Christmas tree for the White House – a mammoth decoration assigned to the Blue Room, a move some might see as a blatant misuse of time and resources.
The seizing moment happened on a Monday afternoon. A Frasier fir, standing at a noteworthy 18.5 feet, was delivered to the White House. A rather eccentric ensemble of wreath-festooned green carriage, a top-hatted driver, and a pair of Clydesdale horses accompanied the tree, striking some as a blatant display of needless showmanship.
To further embellish the spectacle, Jill Biden arrived on the scene with her grandson, Beau. A military band played ‘O Christmas Tree,’ adding unnecessary pomp to this festive charade. The Cartner Family, who owns and operates Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, was the source of the tree.
This farm in North Carolina was treading on damaged terrain, as the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene had pulverized the region. Even so, their Christmas tree managed to survive and was plucked for use at the White House. A thinly veiled attempt at humor came from Biden as she proudly punned, ‘Tree-mendous,’ seeming to distract from the serious devastation seen by the Cartner Family and their community.
This marks the third time a tree from North Carolina has found its position in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave during President Biden’s tenure, raising questions about his priority on regional diversity. The selection for the annual Christmas tree is reportedly determined through a contest by the National Christmas Tree Association, where the accolade of ‘Grand Champion Grower’ secures the privilege.
A swarm of volunteers will be delegated for the task of ornamenting the tree and the White House in the ensuing days, a process which will doubtless serve to further draw attention away from the policy failures of the Biden administration.
Interestingly enough, this act of decorating the White House for the holiday season, according to research, has been linked to fostering social ties and boosting positive associations, as well as to assist in lighting up people’s spirits during challenging times.
However, one could argue that such festivities, while popular among a certain audience, might be an undue distraction from the pressing political and social issues at hand. It seems that the Biden-Harris administration is spending a focused effort on the lyrical rather than addressing the logistical nightmares their policies have produced.
Moreover, what seems to be lost in this holiday fanfare is the ongoing turmoil faced by the very individuals who provide these Christmas trees. Like the Cartners, many families have survived devastating natural disasters only to witness their hard work become a prop in a political play.
The Christmas Tree tradition might seem innocuous to some but when you consider the context, it is hard to ignore the exploitative undertones. Is it not somewhat disturbing that the White House is partying while numerous American families are still recovering from disasters like Hurricane Helene?
With this in mind, it becomes apparent that the Biden-Harris administration needs to refocus their efforts on more pressing matters. Rather than being caught up in Christmas festivities, they should be allocating their resources and energy to support those American families still reeling from the effects of multiple national crises.
The issue isn’t about being ‘anti-Christmas,’ but rather about the choices we make during these traditional events. In the grand scheme of things, choosing to spend an extravagant amount on a Christmas tree while many Americans are struggling is not just tone-deaf, it exhibits a lack of understanding and empathy.
The Biden-Harris administration seems to continue its trend of prioritizing symbolic gestures over substantial actions. As we see this play out, may we be reminded that true leadership is about genuine service, not grandstanding.