The White House is reopening for public tours on Tuesday after a months‑long suspension tied to President Donald Trump’s demolition of the East Wing for a new ballroom. First Lady Melania Trump on Monday unveiled the 2025 holiday decorations, themed “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” which honor military families and the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, though the tour route is now shortened to the State Floor.
Public tours of the White House were suspended for several months this year while President Donald Trump ordered the East Wing and its colonnade demolished to make way for a ballroom he has long sought, according to multiple news reports and congressional correspondence. The Associated Press reports that the East Wing was torn down in October, forcing a reconfiguration of the popular holiday tours, which are now resuming with a modified route limited to the State Floor.
Under the new arrangement, visitors enter through the North Portico on Pennsylvania Avenue via a semi‑permanent walkway and proceed along a shortened circuit that includes the East Room, Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room, State Dining Room, Cross Hall and Grand Foyer. Ground‑floor spaces such as the Library and the Vermeil and China Rooms are closed to the public this season because of the ongoing construction, the AP and local television outlets report.
First Lady Melania Trump personally selected the decorations under the theme “Home Is Where the Heart Is,” working with longtime designer Hervé Pierre, according to the Daily Wire and Newsmax. The White House and wire‑service reports say this year’s display features 75 wreaths with classic red bows, 51 Christmas trees, more than 700 feet of garland, over 2,000 strands of lights, more than 25,000 feet of ribbon, about 2,800 gold stars and more than 10,000 butterflies. A White House statement cited by several outlets says the decor is meant to highlight American generosity, patriotism and gratitude while nodding to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Trump has said the theme reflects her own experience of constant travel as a mother and businesswoman. In an interview with Fox News Digital, she described how “frequent motion” taught her that home is not merely a physical place but the warmth and comfort she carries with her, a sentiment echoed in coverage by other outlets.
In the Blue Room, the official White House Christmas tree — an approximately 18‑foot concolor fir grown in Sidney, Michigan — pays tribute to Gold Star families. Newsmax and CBS News report that the tree is decorated with gold stars and 3D ornaments featuring the official bird and flower of each U.S. state and territory, continuing the tradition of representing the entire country while also honoring families who have lost loved ones in active‑duty military service.
The Green Room is dedicated to family fun. As described by the Associated Press and Fox News, the room features large portraits of President George Washington and President Trump, each composed of more than 6,000 Lego‑style puzzle pieces, alongside other game‑themed details meant to evoke classic pastimes.
The Red Room, temporarily branded the “Fostering the Future Red Room,” showcases Trump’s child‑focused initiatives. According to the AP, Newsmax and lifestyle coverage from AOL, thousands of bright blue butterflies fill the room and its tree, symbolizing transformation. The decor incorporates white ornaments inscribed with “Be Best,” a reference to Trump’s broader campaign for children, and highlights her Fostering the Future effort supporting young people with experience in foster care.
In the East Room, patriotic decorations underscore the approach of America’s 250th birthday in 2026. The Associated Press and Fox News report that trees there are trimmed in red, white and blue and adorned with national symbols including eagles, the Great Seal, roses and oak leaves. Bases marked with “America 250” and puzzle‑piece presidential portraits are designed to invite families to interact with the display and reflect on the country’s history, the Daily Wire notes.
The State Dining Room features one of the season’s signature attractions: a gingerbread replica of the White House. As detailed by the AP and PBS NewsHour, this year’s creation is modeled on the South Portico and offers a peek into the Yellow Oval Room in the private residence. Pastry chefs used about 120 pounds of gingerbread, 100 pounds of pastillage, more than 10 pounds of chocolate and 5 pounds of royal icing to construct the display.
This Christmas marks the fifth time Melania Trump has overseen holiday decorations at the White House, according to the Daily Wire and tabloid coverage, continuing a modern tradition of themed decor that historians trace back to Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1961 “Nutcracker” motif. Public tickets for White House tours are requested through members of Congress, as is standard practice, and a White House statement quoted by local outlets says tens of thousands of visitors are expected to pass through the People’s House during the holiday season.
The ballroom project has drawn criticism on Capitol Hill. In an October letter, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and dozens of colleagues questioned whether demolishing the East Wing for a presidential ballroom complies with federal preservation law, characterizing the construction as a “vanity project” and expressing concern about the loss of historic space. While critics have raised alarms, broad public polling on the renovation is not yet available, and news outlets have not reported verified survey data showing majority support or opposition.
