Melania Trump is widely remembered for a leaked 2018 phone recording in which she complained about having to handle White House holiday duties, saying she was “working my ass off on the Christmas stuff” and asking “who gives a f--- about the Christmas stuff and decorations?” in frustration over the expectations placed on her.

The Famous Leaked Quote

In secretly recorded audio released in 2020, Melania vented about the pressure of the First Lady role and the criticism she received over her Christmas decor. In that call, she said she was “working my ass off on the Christmas stuff” and then bluntly asked, “who gives a f--- about the Christmas stuff and decorations?” while contrasting that attention with questions about migrant children at the border.

How She Publicly Framed Christmas

Despite the rant, Melania consistently presented Christmas in public as a patriotic, elegant celebration at the White House. She described her themes as honoring “American Treasures” and called the bold red trees a symbol of “valor and bravery,” saying the decorations looked even more beautiful in person.

Recent Christmas Talk After Trump’s Return

With Donald Trump back in the White House, reports say Melania is again in charge of Christmas traditions and decor, but on her own terms. Sources quoted in coverage say she will continue decorating but will “set her own schedule” and use her own taste, with Trump himself joking that he asked her to “make the trees green” after earlier years’ backlash.

TL;DR: When people ask “what did Melania Trump say about Christmas,” they’re usually referring to the leaked 2018 line where she complained she was working her “ass off” on Christmas decorations and questioned “who gives a f--- about the Christmas stuff,” even as she publicly promoted highly stylized, patriotic holiday themes at the White House.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.