Jackie Kennedy had exquisite taste — in clothes, home decor, entertainment, and her choice of a first husband.

Melania Trump . . . not so much. She dresses well, but remember her “Handmaid’s Tale” Christmas trees?

And her husband . . . well, you have only to consider his passion for gilt and glitter, the decor of his New York penthouse, the shiny personalized items he added to the Oval Office, and his choice of entertainment for the once-renowned Kennedy Center — reportedly sidelining classical ballet to make room for something on the order of “So You Think You Can Dance” (which is good fun for TV viewing, but hardly appropriate for a cultural center).

There is also, of course, his paving over of a substantial portion of the beautiful White House Rose Garden, and his plans for a 90,000-square-foot, $200 million ballroom addition. His simple philosophy: More is better.

Well, no . . . sometimes, more is just more. Take, for example, his new money-making sideline: Trump merchandise in the White House gift shop.

Never mind the traditional items available for purchase by tourists looking for a bit of memorabilia to take home with them. For the current White House occupant, it has to be all about him . . . and if he can line his already overflowing pockets a bit more, then so much the better.

We’re not talking about tasteful trinkets, like photos and books about the history of the White House, or even coffee mugs bearing pictures of the building. No, we’re talking about Trump, Trump, and more Trump . . . . MAGA, MAGA, and more MAGA . . .

. . . and Crap, Crap, and more Crap . . .

. . . and even this flagrant bit of unconstitutional wishful thinking:

What must European leaders Starmer, Macron, Herz, Meloni, Stubb, Rutte and von der Leyen have thought when they arrived to try to find a solution to the war in Ukraine, and received a tour of . . . THAT??!!!

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Now, I don’t think I’m a snob. There is ample room in this world for an infinite variety of tastes. Classical, country-western and rock music can co-exist nicely. One person may enjoy minimalist decor, another prefer a bit of kitsch and clutter, and a third person even love red Christmas trees. It’s okay. In fact, it’s the variety of choices that make life so interesting.

But in the world of international diplomacy, there are traditions and rules — and plain old common sense — to be considered. If Trump’s taste in decor is more glitzy than yours or mine, that’s fine. But did he have to put his egotistical, money-grubbing collection of cheap merchandise on display for all the world to see?

Frankly, it’s mortifying.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
8/25/25