In 2008, the Bush administration had to apologize when the White House Hanukkah party invitation featured a Christmas tree. The Trump administration scoffs at that slur as small potatoes. It is now metaphorically saying, "Hold my beer." To hell with a tree. They are making the Christmas connection beyond doubt.
JD Vance (a newly minted Catholic) has sent out an invitation to a 2025 Hanukkah Reception at the Vice President's Residence. However, for some reason (speculation welcome), the invite was headlined "The Golden Noel." (More on that later.) Right under that, the invite adds "CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF CHRISTMAS AT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE."
It seems that in VanceWorld, everyone is a Christian regardless of their stated religion and their feelings on the matter.
In 2008, Press Secretary Sally McDonough apologized for a "staff mistake." She made clear that "Mrs. Bush is apologetic, It is just something that fell through the cracks." However, let's note that Second Lady Usha Vance was raised and still is Hindu. So it's very doubtful she authored the disrespect, either deliberately or accidentally. And Vance, being a Trump impressionist, is unlikely to apologize for anything.
Here is an image of the offensive invitation:
Here is an enlargement of the critical section:
I know Christmas. I am less au fait with Hanukkah. However, my impression was that "Noel" refers exclusively to Christian midwinter celebrations. To confirm, I looked it up.
The English word "Noel" derives from "Noël", meaning "Christmas" in Old French. That in turn comes from natalis, meaning "birth" in Latin. This led the early Roman Church to refer to Christmas as natalis dies (birth day). In addition, Noel is commonly associated with a Christmas Carol in the Christmas lexicon.
Why "Golden?" Typically, that means a 50-year celebration. And indeed, the Naval Observatory has been the VP's residence since 1975. So that tracks. However, the reference to Trump's favorite metal cannot have escaped the attention of the administration's most prominent sycophant.
Credit: This cultural colonization was first noted by Jewish Insider senior national correspondent Gabby Deutch, who shared an image of the invitation on her social media. Oy vey!
