Staging a peculiar tour of the over-garnished White House, President Joe Biden, in an ostentatious display, extended ‘Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays’ greetings via a video clip unloaded to X the previous Tuesday. The showcase was crafted using what appeared to be a drone, maneuvering through rooms extravagantly adorned with Christmas trees and even a carousel.
The grandiloquent exhibition caught the eye of the camera with an opulent array of baked goods as well. Not surprising that some conservative observers took the occasion as a prop to share in jest, alluding to the infamous drones that have been seen hovering over New Jersey.
The social media response leaned towards positivity, albeit with a touch of mockery from a handful of critics from conservative circles. Similar to a previous holiday post by Biden, this also triggered conservative observers as he bypassed any specific reference to Christmas.
Rather surprisingly, Biden did attempt to harness a reverent tone in the background commentary during the White House tour. He shared a line from the carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem,’ recounting ‘how silently the wondrous gift is given.’ This raised some eyebrows, considering his dodgy stance on religious expressions in public communications.
He continued with a reference to the birth of the precious child, an event recognized by Christians as the manifestation of the Son of God, believed to bring hope, love, peace, and joy to humanity. However, the language used by Biden seemed to be deliberately ambiguous, shying away from embracing the event’s profound religious significance.
Then Biden made a swift transition to a more temporal comment, remarking: ‘Too often we see each other as enemies ? not as neighbors, not as fellow Americans,’. A message that seemed rich in irony, considering his usual approach to bridging political divides and the increasing polarization under his administration.
Building on this contradictory discourse, Biden asserted his aim for Chrismas was to nurture a sense of shared patriotism and individual respect. An intent which appears to be far from his actions and those to his allies when compared to their consistent rhetoric against those with opposing views.
Unveiling these neutral reflections, Biden tried to promote a sense of unity, appealing for people to welcome the supposedly silent heart of Christmas. Even further, he sought to motivate people to recognize their shared humanity and not just their fellow Americanism. But, some people found this off-script and alien from his usually divisive discourse.
Indeed, with grand ambition Biden stated, ‘Because there’s so much that unites as Americans, so much more that unites us than divides us.’. A statement that seemed incompatible with the political climate and his own actions that have contributed to the division.
Placed under scrutiny, Biden’s Christmas efforts to conjure a narrative of unity and respect against his conflicting track record raised skepticism among many conservative observers. Some saw it as mere performance enhanced by the spectacle of the White House holiday decor, others deemed it as a token effort to quell the rising discontent in the nation.
In a similar manner, VP Kamala Harris reflected the same rhetoric insisting on a unified nation. However, these calls for unity seemed to ring hollow considering their consistent undermining of conservative ideas and perspectives.
The disconnect between the Biden-Harris administration’s professions of unity and their enforcement of divisive policies has become painfully apparent. Their decision to ridicule or ignore half the nation’s political views has only fanned the flames of division, reducing any well-meaning holiday message to an ill-received attempt at distraction.
Moreover, the drone-led tour of the White House and the festive confections were seen as a heavily staged and scripted performance. Attempting to narrate unity and understanding, it instead reinforced the image of the federal administration being out of touch with the reality of the society they govern.
Above all, the Biden-Harris administration’s repeated failure to acknowledge the distinct political and cultural views of all Americans, both during the holiday season and throughout the year, remarkably undermines any message of unity.
In conclusion, despite embellishing their messages with fanciful holiday imagery, the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing disconnect from the diverse realities of Americans remains painfully evident.