Donald Trump raised eyebrows by posting a six-year-old Christmas portrait of himself and ex-First Lady Melania Trump on Truth Social. The photograph, originally taken during their 2018 White House Christmas celebrations, sparked interest due to Melania’s noticeable absence from the recent Christmas festivities at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.
Alongside the reused image, Trump shared a simple holiday greeting, “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!” a sharp contrast to his aggressive 2023 message where he wished government “thugs” to “rot in hell.” His previous year’s message involved a lengthy rant against various entities, including a special prosecutor, world leaders, and certain domestic policies, amid his ongoing legal troubles.
In his 2023 message, Trump stated: “Merry Christmas to all, including Crooked Joe Biden’s ONLY HOPE, Deranged [special prosecutor] Jack Smith, the out of control Lunatic who just hired outside attorneys, fresh from the SWAMP (unprecedented!), to help him with his poorly executed WITCH HUNT against ‘TRUMP’ and ‘MAGA.’” He further condemned various world leaders and domestic elements, ultimately wishing them to “rot in hell.”
Social media users identified the 2024 image as the same used for their 2018 official Christmas portrait, sparking widespread conversation regarding Melania Trump’s public presence. Her absence from recent campaign events and public appearances has led to speculation about the couple’s relationship. Her nonappearance in the 2023 Christmas photo at Mar-a-Lago was particularly noticeable.
One user pointed out the reuse of the photo, commenting, “Nice try, bro. That photo is from 2018. #WheresMelania,” while sharing the Christmas card.
The recycled image was attached to a pre-recorded video wherein Donald and Melania Trump expressed their gratitude to Americans for maintaining the country’s safety and paid tribute to Christianity. However, the use of outdated footage with the old photograph stirred public curiosity about Melania Trump’s current involvement in her husband’s political endeavors.
While Trump was publicly present at the Mar-a-Lago’s Christmas dinner, Melania Trump’s absence was noted by various media outlets and social media commentators.
The Trump Organization concurrently promoted holiday merchandise through its online store, featuring MAGA-themed Christmas items such as teddy bears, hat ornaments, and Trump gold wrapping paper.
During the holiday, members of the Trump family were active on social media. Donald Trump Jr. shared an AI-created image of his father as Santa Claus at the border, accompanied by a caption critiquing immigration policies. Meanwhile, Vice President-elect JD Vance posted a video of himself baking cookies with his daughter.
The Trump family celebrated the holidays at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where Trump has been managing his post-election activities since his November victory.
On the other hand, President Joe Biden, who is preparing to leave office, delivered his final holiday message as president, focusing on themes of “dignity and decency.”