A White House Christmas Story

Peri Stevens, VA - Writer

The first lady, Melania Trump, decorated the White House⁠ with patriotic, alluring decor; gingerbread houses, Lego portraits, and puzzles of past US presidents in the Green Room, as well as 51 festive trees and 75 wreaths throughout the decked halls, completing the home for the Christmas season. The decorations display the White House’s theme for the 2025 holiday season: “Home Is Where The Heart Is.” The centerpiece tree in the Blue Room of the White House is 18 feet tall from Korason’s Tree Farms of Sidney, Michigan, adorned with over 2,800 Gold Star Families, in addition to flowers and birds from each state.

⁠Individuals can now visit the decorated White House,⁠ as of December 2nd, after its October shutdown for ballroom updates, with an updated route throughout the State Floor. The tour includes visiting rooms such as the Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room, as well as other locations on the given floor, featuring holiday displays.

In addition to the joyful atmosphere within the White House, the 103rd National tree lighting ceremony took place on the Ellipse at the White House, also being referred to as President’s Park, on December 4th. The public can only receive tickets by entering an online lottery each year. Performances from Alana Springsteen, Jon Pardi, The Beach Boys, Brett Young, Jillian Cardarelli, Tariqh Akoni, Warren Zeiders, and the US Navy Band Commodores Jazz Ensemble, with co-hosts Gabby Barrett and Matthew West, took place before the lighting of a 75-foot Norway spruce. The ceremony stream for individuals unable to obtain tickets was on the Great American Family channel at 8pm ET on December 5th.

Christmas at the White House is merry not only for the First family, but for citizens alike who visit the White House through tours, stroll through President's Park to see the colorfully lit national tree, or care deeply for the message Christmas holds for millions of individuals around the world.