‘Bee tornado’ swarms White House lawn after Melania Trump expands executive mansion honey program

WASHINGTON, DC: Thousands of bees briefly descended on the White House North Lawn Friday, making for an unusual scene outside the executive mansion just weeks after First Lady Melania Trump announced an expansion of the White House beekeeping program.

Reporters gathered near the West Wing described the scene as a sudden bee tornado as the insects moved across the media area and then settled into a nearby tree.

Swarm follows Melania Trump’s White House bee expansion

The White House got an unexpected buzz on Friday when thousands of bees swarmed the North Lawn weeks after first lady Melania Trump added new bee colonies to the executive mansion grounds.

Numerous black dots, later identified as a swarm of bees, were spotted on the White House near the press corps’ Pebble Beach media area on the North Lawn.

About 20 minutes later, the bees swarmed into a hive on a tree on the North Lawn of the White House.

Fox News reported that the White House has not yet confirmed whether the swarm was connected to the newly added colonies, though the timing sparked speculation online. The Office of the First Lady did not immediately comment on the incident.

It is unclear what led to the swarm, though just weeks ago, the first lady announced the addition of two new bee colonies to the property's existing two.

She also unveiled a new replica White House beehive on the South Lawn.

White House honey program becomes a growing tradition

The hive took center stage during Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla's state visit when the royal couple, both longtime supporters of beekeeping, toured the newly expanded hive with the Trumps on the South Lawn.

Funded through the Trust for the National Mall, the new White House hive supports the existing colonies in pollinating the nearby White House Kitchen Garden, Flower Cutting Garden, and vegetation on the National Mall.

The White House beekeeping program started in 2009 after a White House carpenter, Charlie Brandt, started keeping bees on the complex as a hobby a few years prior.

Officials say the colonies also help pollinate the White House Kitchen Garden, flower beds, and vegetation across portions of the National Mall, making the bee program both symbolic and practical for the historic property.

Despite the disruption caused by bees, no injuries were reported, and the bees eventually relocated into a tree away from the main media area. Videos shared online showed reporters briefly moving away from cameras and equipment as the swarm passed through the North Lawn.