Melania Trump Unveils Christmas at the White House
The first lady’s 2025 holiday decor theme: “Home Is Where the Heart Is.”
First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday reopened the White House for public tours, a day after she unveiled its 2025 Christmas theme “Home Is Where the Heart Is.”
This is the first time Mrs. Trump has decorated the White House for the holidays since her husband returned to office. Tuesday also marked the first day the White House has been open to public tours since it was closed months ago in preparation of Mr. Trump’s planned $300 million ballroom construction that resulted in the October demolition of the East Wing.
In the past, visitors would enter to view the White House decorations through the lushly decorated East Wing Lobby. This year, guests enter through the North Portico of the White House that faces Pennsylvania Avenue for a scaled back tour that includes the East Room, Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room and State Dining Room.
The first lady appointed French-American fashion and costume designer Herve Pierre, who has designed fashions for four first ladies including Mrs. Trump, to oversee her vision for the decor. The decorations spotlight themes including the first lady’s Be Best and Fostering the Future initiatives as well as the nation’s 250th anniversary of its founding in 2026. Pierre also created the keepsake limited-edition “Home Is Where the Heart Is” tour booklet.
Her inspiration this year stems from the busy pace of life and the lesson that home “is not merely a physical space,” but “the warmth and comfort I carry within, regardless of my surroundings,” Mrs. Trump said in a statement. “This Christmas, let’s celebrate the love we hold within ourselves, and share it with the world around us. After all, wherever we are, we can create a home filled with grace, radiance, and endless possibilities.”
This year’s decor, while truncated, includes 75 wreaths with classic red bows adorning White House windows, more than 50 Christmas trees, 700 feet of garland, 25,000 feet of ribbon, 2,000 strands of light and 10,000 butterflies filling its halls.
At the center of the Red Room is a Christmas tree decorated with vivid blue butterflies extending to an ornate chandelier above, signifying Mrs. Trump’s “Fostering the Future” initiative supporting children in foster care that she has championed since 2021. The blue butterflies, a symbol associated with foster care, against the room’s striking red walls are meant to emphasize transformation and renewal for children in foster care. Also on the tree are round ornaments that say “Be Best” and ribbon reading “Fostering the Future.”
The Blue Room displays the Official White House Christmas tree, an 18-foot concolor fir grown by Korson’s Tree Farm in Sidney, Michigan. This year, the tree commemorates the nation’s Gold Star families who have lost a loved one serving in active duty. The tree is decorated with gold stars and ornaments generated from Artificial Intelligence (AI) that represent the official bird and flower of every U.S. state and territory. Recently, Mrs. Trump launched the Presidential AI Challenge competition that encourages students and educators to create AI-powered solutions for issues in their communities.
Designed to capture vintage family fun, the Green Room features whimsical holiday decor including two presidential portraits—one of George Washington and another of Donald Trump—made from 6,000 Lego pieces. Other game-themed holiday decorations in the room featured multicolored dominoes and a patriotic card house.
The East Room featured a patriotic display of trees commemorating America’s 250th anniversary to be celebrated in 2026. The trees are decorated in red, white and blue and include eagle ornaments that represent each state and territory. On one side of the room, a large gold curtain covers a “knockout wall” that last month Mr. Trump said will eventually lead to the planned ballroom.
A favorite tour stop for visitors at the White House is in the State Dining Room where the 2025 Gingerbread house is on display. Crafted out of 120 pounds of gingerbread, the miniature White House highlighting the South Portico features a glimpse into its interior with a view into the Yellow Oval Room showing a living area with a little decorated Christmas tree and illuminated chandelier and wall candelabra sconces. The scene, according to First Lady Communications Director Nicholas Clemens, captures the room as it is currently decorated for the Trumps.