Thread by @ClaraJeffery

Personally, I think we should move beyond the point where the First Spouse (if there is one) is "in charge" of decorating the White House or designing the Rose Garden, unless they're into it.

Like we don't expect the First Lady/Gentleman to cook for every state dinner. They hire an executive chef (who yeah, seeks input/sign off but...) for that.

I have zero love or respect for Melania, but I think the Rose Garden had some real drainage issues that had to be attended to.

And if we're going to do before/after photo outrage, those photos should be at the exact same time of year.

also online petitions are just email harvesting schemes. all of them. and easily pumped and gamed. and should almost never lead to a news article.

kthnxbai

And, the "Melania pulled up Jackie's cherry trees and roses" bit is...fake news. Crabapple trees were relocated. Again, there were structural and drainage issues.

usatoday.com/story/news/fac…

If you're wondering why this story is back in the news, quite likely it's because somebody had an email harvesting quota to meet.

And none of these pubs or any other should have run a news story off an overheated email harvesting scheme.

But you, the news consumer, can keep yourself from being manipulated into cycles of fake outrage. Story about a petition? Pass.

Now, if we want to engage in a vigorous debate about whether at least some spaces in the White House should not be trapped in an interior design time warp, fine. See also: drapery and carpet with the giant seal.