Tinsel, tradition and messaging: The politics behind White House holiday decorations
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.Every year,...
By Fox News · Fox News
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. Every year, the first lady — regardless of whether the president is a Republican or Democrat — enjoys the annual tradition of transforming the White House into a winter wonderland, filled with the magic of Christmas and holiday cheer. And each first lady has the opportunity to determine what that magic is, and how it fits with the administration's messaging. During the first Trump administration, first lady Trump ensured her decor had a classic, patriotic theme. FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP DECORATES THE WHITE HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS: 'HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS' In 2017, the first year of the Trump administration, all eyes were on the first lady. Her theme was "time honored traditions," which included classic decorations exuding national pride, support for the military and traditional Christmas — a nod at President Donald Trump's "America First" messaging. Melania Trump was criticized that year for using an all-white theme, with House Beautiful magazine saying she used "a terrifying amount of white." In 2018, Melania Trump’s theme was "American treasures," which 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. In the East Colonnade, the first lady decorated with bold red trees, and the Green Room featured American folk art. MELANIA TRUMP UNVEILS WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, THEME FOR 2020 Melania Trump was criticized for her use of all red Christmas trees. In 2019, the theme was "The Spirit of America," which again focused on states, with state flowers and symbols as ornaments on the trees in the Blue Room; the U.S. 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" camp…