First Lady Melania Trump has officially unveiled the White House holiday decorations for the season, marking her first return to the tradition since resuming her role. The theme for this year's elaborate display is 'Home Is Where the Heart Is'.
A Patriotic Celebration and a Tribute
The decor, which Mrs. Trump personally oversaw, incorporates a significant patriotic element in anticipation of next year's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The East Room has been transformed with red, white, and blue colours and national symbols, including golden eagle tree toppers.
In a poignant change this year, the official White House Christmas tree, displayed in the Blue Room, now honours Gold Star families – those who have lost a member in active military service. This tree, traditionally adorned with ornaments representing each state and territory, this year features the official bird and flower of each.
Logistics and Lavish Details
The festive transformation required a monumental effort from a team of volunteer decorators. The Executive Mansion is now adorned with 51 Christmas trees, 75 wreaths, over 700 feet of garland, and more than 2,000 strands of lights. Other details include over 25,000 feet of ribbon, 2,800 gold stars, 10,000 butterflies, and a 120-pound gingerbread house.
Public tours, which were suspended due to construction, are set to resume on Tuesday, 2 December. However, the route has been updated. Visitors will now enter via the North Portico doors on Pennsylvania Avenue and are limited to the State Floor, which includes rooms like the East Room and the State Dining Room. The Ground Floor rooms have been cut from the tour due to ongoing work.
Personal Touches and Symbolic Rooms
Several rooms feature unique, personal touches. The Green Room celebrates family fun with portraits of George Washington and Donald Trump, each crafted from over 6,000 Lego pieces. The Red Room, decorated with thousands of butterflies, pays tribute to young people and Melania Trump's 'Fostering the Future' initiative, which supports those who have been in foster care.
The extensive decoration work was mostly completed after the First Family departed for their Thanksgiving holiday in Palm Beach, Florida, on 25 November. They returned to the White House on Sunday, 30 November.
This festive reveal comes years after Mrs. Trump was secretly recorded in 2018 expressing frustration over some traditional first lady duties, including Christmas preparations. Those recordings were made by her former friend and adviser, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff.
