White House ditches Biden grandkid stockings after finally acknowledging Hunter love child
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The first family knocked their own socks off with this year’s White House Christmas decor.
In a stark departure from the previous two Yuletides, first lady Jill Biden did away with hanging stockings for her grandchildren and pets over the mantle in the State Dining Room.
The change comes months after President Biden and his wife issued a statement publicly acknowledging first son Hunter Biden’s out-of-wedlock daughter, Navy Joan Roberts, as their seventh grandchild.
Navy, now 5, was not included in the stocking displays for 2021 or 2022 — unlike Hunter’s three daughters he shares with ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and his son with current wife Melissa Cohen.
A White House spokesperson explained the change by saying that the Bidens plan to spend the holiday at Camp David and will hang the stockings by the chimney with care there instead.
In 2021 and 2022, the first family remained in Washington on Christmas Day before making post-holiday trips to their home at Rehoboth Beach, Del. and St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, respectively.
On Monday, the first lady unveiled the White House’s extravagant decorations, featuring 98 Christmas trees, roughly 34,000 ornaments, and 142,000 twinkling lights around the executive mansion.
The official White House Menorah rests in the Cross Hall, which is nestled between the East Room and State Dining Room.
The decorations also incorporate more than 350 candles and more than 22,100 bells — as well as toy soldiers, candy, and 72 wreaths along the north and south facades of the White House.
There is also a Gingerbread White House comprised of roughly 40 sheets of cookie dough, 90 pounds of pastillage, 30 pounds of chocolate, 50 pounds of royal icing, and 40 sheets of gingerbread dough, per an official guide.
Also included is a statue of German shepherd Commander, who was booted from the White House earlier this year after showing a penchant for biting, alongside a sculpture of first cat Willow.
The theme of the White House holiday celebration is “Magic, Wonder, and Joy,” which the Bidens said “is inspired by how children experience this festive season: completely present in the beauty and bounty around them, their senses alight, with hearts open to the magic, wonder, and joy of the holidays.”
Much of the decor inside features nods to Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” which was first published 200 years ago, in 1823.
“In this season of reflection and goodwill, we hope you will embrace your inner child and delight in simply being present with those you love,” the Bidens went on.
The Bidens returned to the White House Sunday night following their celebration of Thanksgiving in Nantucket, Mass. along with six of their grandchildren.
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