Donald Trump now the one making controversial White House design choices after Melania Trump.

For the 2025 holiday season, First Lady Melania Trump has chosen a more traditional approach for the White House Christmas decorations, a notable shift from her more avant-garde displays during her first term. In contrast, President Donald Trump has implemented bold design changes throughout the residence in his second term.

The minimalist white branches and dramatic red forests that once defined the White House December decor have been replaced with classic Christmas trees and conventional garlands. The first ladys theme this year, "Home Is Where The Heart Is", draws inspiration from childhood toys and the transformative symbolism of butterflies, according to the 2025 Christmas at the White House guidebook.

Signature features include red bows adorning 75 wreaths in the White House windows, a nod to more traditional holiday aesthetics. Melania Trumps decorations reflect a restrained style, mirroring her more muted fashion choices this term, favoring gray and beige skirt suits with only occasional bold pieces.

Unlike her first term, the first lady now plans to divide her time between Washington, DC, Trump Tower in New York City, and Mar-a-Lago in Florida, resulting in less frequent public appearances.

Meanwhile, President Trumps design interventions are dramatic and extensive. The Oval Office features numerous gold accents and portraits of the president, while the East Wing has been demolished to make way for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. This renovation significantly reduced the space available for Melania Trumps holiday decorations, particularly along the East Entrance and East Colonnade.

During a tour of the decorated White House, the halls adorned by Melania Trump showcased beautiful Christmas trees, garlands, and ornaments reflecting her Be Best initiative for childrens wellness, as well as AI-generated, 3D-printed ornaments honoring the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge. The centerpiece that drew the most attention, however, was one of President Trumps contributions: a portrait by Marc Lipp depicting him with his fist raised after surviving an assassination attempt.

Although Melania Trump curated the holiday ambiance, President Trumps bold design choices dominated the visual impact of the 2025 White House Christmas season.

Author: Sophia Brooks