The “American Star” was meant to be a gleaming centerpiece of Melania Trump’s holiday vision; instead, it became a lightning rod. At $90, the brass, red‑white‑and‑blue ornament, engraved with her signature, landed in a nation already raw over inequality and political spectacle. To many, it wasn’t just decoration—it was a price tag stamped onto the idea of Christmas at the people’s house.
Inside the White House, the 2025 theme, “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” tried to soften her image with toys, natural trees, and patriotic touches. Yet the ornament controversy cut through the carefully staged warmth, reviving accusations of grifting and detachment. The same halls that displayed Lego portraits and a 20‑pound gingerbread White House now host a debate over taste, ethics, and power. Love her or loathe her, Melania’s holidays still manage to divide the country.
