Inside the White House Christmas 2025: Melania Trump's 'Home Is Where the Heart Is' Holiday Decorations

Melania Trump revealed the holiday decorations for her family's first Christmas back at the White House, announcing "Home Is Where the Heart Is" as this year's festive theme.

The First Lady unveiled the elaborate decorations on Monday, which also pay tribute to next year's significant milestone - the 250th anniversary of America's founding with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

A dedicated team of volunteers from across the nation helped transform the Executive Mansion into a spectacular holiday showcase featuring 75 wreaths, 51 Christmas trees, over 700 feet of garland, more than 2,000 strands of lights, exceeding 25,000 feet of ribbon, over 2,800 gold stars, more than 10,000 butterflies, and 120 pounds of gingerbread.

Mrs. Trump shared on social media: "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 endless possibilities."

However, this year's celebration includes notable differences due to President Trump's recent renovation project. The East Wing was demolished in October to make way for a ballroom the President has long desired to add to the White House.

The White House's official Christmas tree, traditionally displayed in the Blue Room, serves a dual purpose this year by also honoring Gold Star families who have lost loved ones during active military service.

Typically, this special tree was an East Wing fixture and the first decoration visitors would encounter upon entering through those doors. However, with the demolition of that wing and its connecting colonnade, the visitation experience has changed significantly.

Public tours will resume Tuesday with a modified route limited to the State Floor, including the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room, State Dining Room, Cross Hall, and Grand Foyer. The Library, Vermeil Room, and China Room on the Ground Floor have been removed from the tour route due to ongoing construction.

Despite these changes, the White House expects tens of thousands of holiday visitors for tours, receptions, and parties before Christmas. Visitors will now enter through the North Portico doors on Pennsylvania Avenue using a newly installed semi-permanent walkway and entrance.

A White House statement emphasized that while Christmas traditions may vary across American homes, the nation remains united by shared values. "In every community, we are lifted by simple acts of kindness that reflect the enduring American spirit of generosity, patriotism, and gratitude. These moments remind us that the heart of America is strong and that Home Is Where The Heart Is."

Later Monday, the First Lady joined Vice President JD Vance's wife, Usha Vance, at Joint Base Andrews to spend time with military spouses. Together, they assembled care packages containing Rice Krispies Treats and other snacks, while writing holiday cards for deployed service members as part of an American Red Cross initiative.

During this event, Melania Trump acknowledged the unique challenges faced by military spouses, stating, "We speak regularly of the bravery of our service members, and we should. But we must also illuminate the bravery of those who walk beside them, the spouses who carry the weight of family life on top of their own dreams."

The holiday decorations transform every room on the State Floor into a festive wonderland with unique themes in each space.

The East Room features trees adorned in patriotic red, white, and blue with national symbols including golden eagle tree toppers, highlighting the upcoming America250 national celebration.

In the Blue Room, the official White House Christmas tree displays gold stars honoring fallen service members' families, along with ornaments showcasing the official bird and flower of each state and territory.

The Green Room celebrates family fun with large portraits of George Washington and Donald Trump, the first and current presidents respectively, each meticulously created using more than 6,000 Lego puzzle pieces.

Thousands of blue butterflies grace the Red Room, where the centerpiece tree celebrates young people and pays tribute to Melania Trump's Fostering the Future initiative, which supports former foster care individuals as part of her Be Best program.

A highlight of the holiday display is the gingerbread White House in the State Dining Room, showcasing the mansion's South Portico with a special glimpse into the Yellow Oval Room, a sitting room off the Truman Balcony in the presidential private quarters. This edible masterpiece required 120 pounds of gingerbread, 100 pounds of pastillage (a sugar-based modeling paste), over 10 pounds of chocolate, and 5 pounds of royal icing.

Part of the White House crèche is displayed in the Grand Foyer while the remainder undergoes restoration overseen by the curator's office.