In a recent public opinion poll, Americans have shown a distinct preference for Melania Trump's White House Christmas decorations compared to those of Jill Biden and Michelle Obama. Conducted by JL Partners on December 20th and 21st, the poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters, presenting them with anonymous photos of the festive decor to gauge their tastes free from political influence.
The poll showed that when pitted against Jill Biden’s 2024 decorations, Melania Trump garnered a 61% preference rate over 39%. The images, stripped of any identifying labels, required voters to make their choices based solely on aesthetic appeal. The results transcended partisan lines, with majorities across Democrats, independents, and Republicans favoring Trump’s designs. Notably, even among Democrat respondents, Melania Trump’s decorations were chosen over Jill Biden’s by a margin of 54% to 46%.
A comparison against Michelle Obama’s 2016 holiday arrangement yielded a more pronounced victory for Melania Trump, who won 67% to 33%. Again, a majority of Democrats (62%) chose Trump's style over Obama's (38%), defying expectations of a strict party-line split in cultural preferences.
Melania Trump’s holiday aesthetic featured traditional elements such as elegant trees, gold accents, and a dramatic East Room display emphasizing symmetry. In contrast, Jill Biden’s decor incorporated oversized bells and playful themes, while Michelle Obama opted for modern touches and bold colors.
Pollsters noted the significance of the blind format, which led to outcomes that sharply diverged from the prevailing social media commentary and mainstream media narratives about this year’s White House decor.
The poll also revisited past controversies, including a leaked 2018 conversation where Melania Trump expressed frustration over Christmas preparations, a clip that had been used by critics to question her dedication to holiday traditions. Despite this, the recent poll indicates that voters are judging the decorations on their own merit rather than the surrounding media narratives.
This is not Melania Trump’s first triumph in the court of public opinion regarding holiday decor. A similar Daily Mail poll in 2017 also found her decor to be more popular than Jill Biden’s, even among Democrat voters.
The JL Partners survey included additional Christmas-themed questions, with “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” emerging as the favorite song across parties at 26%. Conversely, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” was the least favored, with 35% of respondents rejecting the tune. The list of least favored holiday traditions was topped by ugly Christmas sweaters.
On a political note, the poll reflected a partisan divide in preferred Christmas dinner companions, with Republicans overwhelmingly choosing President Donald Trump, while Democrats showed a preference for Barack Obama and Kamala Harris.
