White House reopens Christmas tours as Melania Trump’s 2025 decorations debut
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The White House is reopening its doors to Americans for public tours of the 2025 Christmas decorations designed by First Lady Melania Trump for the first time since 2020.
Each year, the First Lady—regardless of whether the president is a Republican or a Democrat—enjoys the tradition of transforming the White House into a winter wonderland filled with the magic of Christmas and holiday cheer. And every first lady has the opportunity to determine what that magic is and how it fits into the administration’s messaging.
During the first Trump administration, First Lady Trump ensured that her decor had a classic, patriotic theme.
FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP IS SETTING UP THE WHITE HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS: ‘HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS’
The official White House Christmas tree is decorated in the Blue Room, seen from Cross Hall, during the 2019 Christmas preview at the White House on Monday, December 2, 2019, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
In 2017, the first year of the Trump administration, all eyes were on the First Lady. Its theme was “time-honored traditions”, which included classic decorations reflecting national pride, support for the military, and a traditional Christmas; A nod to President Donald Trump’s “America First” message. Melania Trump was criticized for using an all-white theme that year, with House Beautiful magazine saying she used “an awful lot of white.”
Each year, the First Lady enjoys the tradition of transforming the White House into a winter wonderland, regardless of whether the president is a Republican or Democrat.
In 2018, Melania Trump’s theme was “American treasures”; that once again highlighted American history with a gingerbread version of the National Mall, a Fraser fir tree decorated with state ribbons in the Blue Room, and more. The First Lady in the East Colonnade was adorned with crimson trees, and the Green Room featured American folk art.
MELANIA TRUMP REVEALS 2020 THEMED WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Melania Trump was criticized for using all of her Christmas trees in red.
The theme for 2019 was “The Spirit of America.” (Official White House Photo: Andrea Hanks)
2019’s theme was “The Spirit of America,” again focusing on states, with state flowers and symbols as ornaments on the trees in the Blue Room; US military with a tree honoring Gold Star families; and gingerbread houses designed like American landmarks.
The First Lady’s decor also frequently highlighted her “Be Best” campaign, which raises money for foster children.
The First Lady’s decor also frequently highlighted her “Be Best” campaign, which raises money for foster children. (Official White House Photo: Andrea Hanks)
And in 2020, in the final year of the first Trump administration and at the end of the first year of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Melania Trump’s theme was “America the Beautiful,” featuring patriotic decorations consistent with President Trump’s “America First” theme, such as golden eagles, mini model trains in the State Dining Room, and gingerbread houses replicating national parks.
Come 2021, then-First Lady Jill Biden had the opportunity to make her mark on Christmas decor with her first theme, “Gifts from the Heart,” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The theme was intended to emphasize unity and faith, focusing on “gifts”. One tree had book-shaped decorations to celebrate learning; military medallions and volunteer patches as decorations to celebrate service; and the gift of hope and faith, with stars and white doves as decoration.
First Lady Jill Biden waves after receiving the official White House Christmas Tree on the North Portico of the White House on November 22, 2021 in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
In 2022, Biden’s theme was “We the People,” reinforcing the Biden administration’s focus on democracy with decorations like golden doves, olive branches and local landmarks from all 50 states.
Christmas decorations are seen in the entrance and cross aisle of the White House as part of First Lady Jill Biden’s “We the People” decorative theme for 2022. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In 2023, Biden switched to the “Magic, Wonder and Joy of the Holidays” theme, featuring oversized toy trains, nutcrackers and characters to stimulate imagination.
Each year, the White House Christmas video was filled with “magic, wonder and joy,” according to First Lady Jill Biden. (White House)
Biden was criticized for a video the White House shared featuring 2023 decorations in which dancers dance around the decorated White House.
In 2024, First Lady Biden’s theme was “Season of Peace and Light,” which featured crystal balls representing “light in darkness” on the Eastern Pillars. The trees in the Blue Room were decorated with paper stars and peace signs, trees draped in white and gold garland, and more.
The Bidens have previously spent Christmases with family in Delaware. (Reuters)
The tradition of Christmas decorating began in 1961, when then-First Lady Jackie Kennedy started the tradition of choosing a theme for the official White House Christmas tree. Kennedy chose a “Nutcracker” theme, featuring ornaments made by disabled volunteers and senior citizens across the country.
But even before the First Lady took responsibility for choosing the theme, the White House was already decorated for Christmas. Early families decorated with greenery and Christmas trees.
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The Blue Room of the White House is seen decorated for the Christmas season on November 29, 2020. (Universal Images Group via Hum Images/Getty Imagesf)
According to the White House Historical Association, the first known White House Christmas tree was decorated only with candles and was placed in the second-floor Oval Room in 1889.
