Makes Sense if You've Seen 12 Monkeys on SyFy

So, the SyFy show 12 Monkeys expands on the movie (in a so-so fashion). But one of their enduring images is the idea of a "red forest". This is where all time stops and therefore humanity ends. The images are seen often in a dreamlike state.

Now imagine that imagery in the White House. No wait, you don't have to imagine...