How Melania Trump’s Christmas Decorations Compare to Jill...

By Marni Rose McFall

News Reporter

ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

First Lady Melania Trump has unveiled the 2025 White House Christmas decorations and theme, titled "Home Is Where the Heart Is."

The décor nods to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the United States and has patriotic red, white, and blue colors.

This is how this year's Christmas decorations compare to former First Lady Jill Biden's Christmas decorations in 2024.

Why It Matters

Christmas decorating in the White House was a modest affair until the mid-20th century. In 1961, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was the first to introduce an official Christmas theme, which went on to set a template for future First Ladies to create a curated Christmas look.

...

Today, Christmas decorations at the White House are associated with the First Lady. And the holiday tradition can prove controversial at times. Last year, Jill Biden’s decorations were criticized by Republicans on social media, who claimed they were "clownish" and "circus-themed".

Meanwhile, Melania Trump had her fair share of Christmas controversy, from dystopian blood-red Christmas trees in the East Colonnade in 2018, and her infamous hatred of the holiday that was leaked to the world in a secretly recorded phone call.

Beyond this, there has long been a rivalry between the Bidens and the Trumps, one that signifies the acrimonious mood in politics, and the state of political polarization in the U.S.

What To Know

This year’s décor marks Melania Trump’s first holiday season back in the White House since the re-election of President Donald Trump in late 2024.

...

In a press release shared by The White House, Melania Trump said: "The constant movement has taught me that home is not merely a physical space; rather, it is the warmth and comfort I carry within, regardless of my surroundings."

That release said that the inspiration for the theme came from "the joys, challenges, and frequent motion derived from motherhood and business."

...

Melania Trump appointed the designer Hervé Pierre to help implement her vision for the decorations. The White House has been decorated with 51 Christmas trees, 75 wreaths, over 700 feet of garland, more than 10,000 butterflies, and 120 pounds of gingerbread.

...

The official White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room is adorned with gold stars, honoring military families. The decorations also feature a Lego portrait of President Trump.

There many colours throughout the decorations, including red, white and blue, silver, and green. The decorations have a traditional feel, while incorporating themes that are important to this current moment, like the upcoming 250th anniversary of The Declaration of Independence.

...

Last year, Dr. Jill Biden selected the theme "A Season of Peace and Light." This décor was "inspired by the spirit of goodwill and gratitude and the festive opening of the doors to the President’s House," according to a post on the website for The White House Historical Association.

...

The Christmas tree in the Red Room was decorated with white paper doves that carried red envelopes with messages of peace on them, and the Christmas tree in the Blue Room was decorated with the names of each state and territory.

Though the decorations and colors mostly had a traditional feel, some of the decorations were brighter and bolder.

...

What People Are Saying

First Lady Melania Trump, in a press release about the White House Christmas theme: "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 grace, radiance, and endless possibilities."

Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden, in a press release announcing the White House Holiday theme in 2024: "As we celebrate our final holiday season here in the White House, we are guided by the values we hold sacred: faith, family, service to our country, kindness towards our neighbors, and the power of community and connection."