Melania Trump has unveiled a White House makeover for Christmas – and the theme is “Home Is Where The Heart Is”.
Dozens of volunteer decorators helped make the building festive with 75 wreaths, 51 Christmas trees, about 200m of garland, over 2,000 strands of lights, more than 7,600m of ribbon, and almost 55kg of gingerbread.
Mrs Trump said the theme for this year’s decorations also nods to next year’s 250th anniversary of the founding of the US.
In a statement, the first lady 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.
“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.”
Decorations this year include Lego portraits of US President Donald Trump and George Washington, a founding father of the United States, in the Green Room.
A painting of Mr Trump after an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, is also in the Grand Foyer.
In a nod to Mrs Trump’s charity work, the Red Room features thousands of blue butterflies in tribute to her Fostering The Future initiative, which supports people who have been in foster care as part of her Be Best child-focused programme.
A gingerbread White House, an annual highlight dating to the Nixon administration, has gone on display in the State Dining Room.
It showcases the South Portico and provides a glimpse into the Yellow Oval room as decorated by the Trumps.
The Yellow Oval is a sitting room in the president’s private living quarters on the second floor of the White House.
Alongside the long-standing tradition to deck the White House halls during the festive season, works to tear down the East Wing continue after Mr Trump ordered the construction of a ballroom.
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It means a couple of things are different this year. The official White House tree which is always on display in the Blue Room is now also honouring families that lost a relative during active military service, decorated with gold stars.
That tree was an East Wing fixture and the first one visitors encountered after they entered through those doors, but the building and a walkway connecting it to the White House were demolished in October as part of Mr Trump’s ballroom plans.
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The 90,000 sq ft ballroom will dwarf the White House itself – and be able to accommodate almost five times more guests than the East Room, the current largest space in the mansion.
The East Wing was built at the beginning of the last century and was last modified in 1942.
