Melania Trump Welcomes 2025 White House Christmas Tree as Holiday Season Begins

Melania Trump stepped out of the presidential residence on Monday, Nov. 24, to receive this year’s official White House Christmas tree, signaling the start of a new holiday season in Washington — and her first one back in the role of first lady since her husband’s earlier term in office.

Now 55, the first lady accepted the tree on the North Portico from Michigan-based Korson’s Tree Farms. The grower was selected after winning the 2025 Grand Champion Growers title from the National Christmas Tree Association in July — the first Michigan farm to earn the honor since 1985, according to a press release. For nearly six decades, the winner of that contest has supplied the White House with its official Christmas centerpiece, which this year was chosen in September by Dale Haney, the White House superintendent of grounds.

The tree’s arrival also sets the stage for the reveal of the 2025 White House holiday decorations, a topic that drew intense interest and criticism during Donald Trump’s first term.

In 2017, Melania debuted a classic, traditional Christmas look inside the White House. The following year, she took a more dramatic approach with a corridor lined by 40 blood-red, cone-shaped trees — an aesthetic she described as “American Treasures.” The bold design quickly became a viral talking point, with social media users drawing comparisons to everything from the red cloaks in the television adaptation of The Handmaid’s Tale to imagery from The Shining.

At the time, the White House said the vivid red color referenced the “pales, or stripes, found in the presidential seal designed by our Founding Fathers,” calling it a symbol of “valor and bravery.” Melania herself defended the look, saying she loved the decorations and encouraging visitors to see them in person, while noting that everyone has “a different taste.”

In 2020, additional attention focused on her holiday role when CNN released a leaked audio recording from the 2018 season. In it, Melania vented about the expectations placed on her to oversee the decor, saying she was “working … my ass off on the Christmas stuff” and wondering “who gives a f— about the Christmas stuff and decorations?” even as she faced questions about children separated under her husband’s immigration policies.

This year, the first lady has already offered a small preview of her plans. On Oct. 8, she shared a brief video on X that showed her arranging a gold-toned Christmas display, complete with garlands and ornaments.

Weeks later, she unveiled her take on Halloween at the White House — her first major seasonal responsibility since returning — opting for an understated and non-spooky design that lined the exterior stairs and walkways with pumpkins and autumn leaves.

With the 2025 Christmas tree now in place, attention will turn to how Melania balances tradition, bold design and past controversy as she prepares to reveal this year’s full holiday theme.