President Donald Trump has unveiled his administration’s first White House holiday card — and it’s starkly different from the greetings sent by his predecessors, Barack Obama and George W. Bush.
Trump’s card specifically references “Christmas,” a word that has been noticeably absent from White House holiday cards in recent years. In fact, the card reads, “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” and is signed by Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and the couple’s son, Barron.
And, as a side note, there’s also a nativity inside the White House, as evidenced in this video featuring Melania Trump:
The decorations are up! @WhiteHouse is ready to celebrate! Wishing you a Merry Christmas & joyous holiday season! pic.twitter.com/d6ZuyeFvrw
— Melania Trump 45 Archived (@FLOTUS45) November 27, 2017
In the past, White House holiday cards have sparked quite a bit of debate, with some critics lashing out over the absence of “Christmas” and over the inclusion of more benign messages from Obama and Bush that wished people happy holidays or “seasons greetings.”
In 2009, Obama’s card said “Season’s Greetings” and in 2011 the text referenced the “light of the season.” Some people were less-than-impressed with the more general language.
Bush also faced scrutiny over his own holiday cards. Reports in 2005 indicated that some people were frustrated by the former president’s greeting, which wished Americans a happy “holiday season.”
At the time, a spokeswoman for Laura Bush told CBS News that the more benign holiday greeting was an effort to respect everyone.
“Their cards in recent years have included best wishes for a holiday season, rather than Christmas wishes, because they are sent to people of all faiths,” Susan Whitson said of the cards.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, said at the time that Bush’s annual cards showed that the former commander-in-chief had a “loss of will.”
“This clearly demonstrates that the Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and that they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture,” Donohue told The Washington Post.
All that aside, the language on Trump’s card appears to be in line with his pledge on the campaign trail and as president to say “Merry Christmas” and to reject more benign holiday messages, as The Daily Mail noted.
Considering that the U.S. president serves a diverse nation, what do you think? Is “Merry Christmas” or a more general greeting the best path forward?