I toured the White House to see Melania Trump’s Christmas decorations. The East Wing is no more, but the display was still dazzling.

• Melania Trump unveiled the White House Christmas decorations on Monday.

• The theme of the decorations is “Home is where the heart is.”

• Since the east wing was demolished in October, the decoration layout has been different from previous years.

The weather is starting to look a lot like Christmas at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

First lady Melania Trump unveiled the 2025 White House Christmas decorations on Monday, her first holiday season in President Donald Trump’s second non-consecutive term and the first since the East Wing was demolished in October.

The east entrance and east colonnade, which featured prominently in Melania Trump’s past White House Christmas decorations showcasing bright branches and crimson trees, are no longer part of the route. They were demolished along with the rest of the east wing.

The White House menorah, which the Biden administration added to the 2022 White House Christmas decorations, is also not on display.

Melania Trump’s White House Christmas decorations are centered around the theme “Home is where the heart is,” paying tribute to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, her “Be Best” initiative and military families.

I visited the White House to get an early look at this year’s holiday displays. Take a look.

I entered the White House via the North Portico Stairs.

In previous years, tours of the White House began at the east entrance.

On my way in, I saw Melania Trump wearing a Christmas wreath with a red bow on the White House window.

The wreaths also appeared on this year’s official White House Christmas card.

The East Room is themed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The East Room’s décor includes patriotic elements and is a collaboration with America250, the national organization responsible for planning next year’s sesquicentennial commemorations.

The Christmas tree in the East Room was filled with red, white and blue ornaments.

Red, white and blue striped ribbons paired with oak leaves are a symbol of traditional strength.

There are also gold sculptures on display in the east hall.

The Christmas tree is covered with golden eagle ornaments, which also appear on the mirror in the east room.

The Green Room displays jigsaw puzzle portraits of Presidents Donald Trump and George Washington.

Each portrait contains 6,000 pieces.

The green room is dedicated to a childlike theme, with childhood toys placed in every corner.

A miniature Christmas tree made of dominoes is built on the side table.

The official White House Christmas tree is the centerpiece of the Blue Oval Room.

This year’s official White House Christmas tree is an 18-foot-tall colorful fir from Sidney, Michigan.

The tree is decorated with ornaments depicting the official birds and flowers of U.S. states and territories, as well as gold stars honoring the families of fallen U.S. soldiers.

The decorations are created using artificial intelligence and 3D printing.

The Red Room was filled with butterflies, a youthful tribute to the first lady’s “Nurture the Future” program that supports children in foster care.

The Red Room is decorated with 10,000 butterflies.

Its Christmas tree is decorated with “Be Best” ornaments and “Fostering the Future” ribbons.

“Nurture the Future” is part of Melania Trump’s “Be the Best” initiative, which focuses on children’s health.

The State Dining Room features a gingerbread white house with a miniature south porch.

The intricate model of the White House is made from 120 pounds of gingerbread, 100 pounds of fondant dough, more than 10 pounds of chocolate and 5 pounds of royal icing.

In the lobby, the U.S. Marine Corps Band played holiday classics such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

I also recognized Do You Want to Build a Snowman? ” from Disney’s “Frozen.”

Part of the White House Nursery is on display in the lobby, and restoration work is underway on the rest.

The White House Nativity Scene, a nativity scene dating to the 18th century, was first displayed at the White House in 1961 and appeared on President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 Christmas card.

The Cross Hall sparkles with ceiling projections and an extra Christmas tree.

Stacks of red gift-wrapped boxes were stacked under the tree, and scented candles filled the air with the warm aroma of spices.

I took a closer look at the painting, which depicts Donald Trump’s raised fist after surviving an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The piece, painted by artist Marc Lipp, hangs where the official White House portrait of President Barack Obama was displayed during the Biden administration.

In total, the White House Christmas decorations include 51 Christmas trees, more than 2,000 strings of lights and 25,000 feet of ribbon.

The White House will reopen for public tours on December 2, the first time since the East Wing was demolished. To schedule a visit, members of Congress submit a request for a visit on behalf of their constituents.

The exhibits are dazzling, but I wish I could have seen the East Wing in its former glory.

Prior to its demolition, the East Wing was once the focal point of White House Christmas decorations and the first stop on tours. The long corridor of the East Colonnade is particularly suitable for immersive and sometimes divisive displays.

The White House has less and less space to decorate until Donald Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom is completed, but I still love seeing the executive mansion decked out for the holidays.

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