Lara Trump reveals family Christmas traditions, guest list, and new celebrations

Lara Trump said the family’s traditions included a candy bowl with full-sized bars for kids and a Christmas Eve service at Bethesda-by-the-Sea
PUBLISHED DEC 25, 2025
(L-R) Eric Trump, Lara Yunaska Trump, Donald Trump, Barron Trump, Melania Trump, Vanessa Haydon Trump, Kai Madison Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Donald John Trump III, and Ivanka Trump (Christopher Gregory/Getty Images)
(L-R) Eric Trump, Lara Yunaska Trump, Donald Trump, Barron Trump, Melania Trump, Vanessa Haydon Trump, Kai Madison Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Donald John Trump III, and Ivanka Trump (Christopher Gregory/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The Trump family is set to celebrate another Christmas at the Mar-a-Lago estate. To share details of how the president and his family are celebrating the holiday, Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, spoke to the Daily Mail on Thursday, December 25.

Lara Trump was asked about any family traditions, and she revealed that apart from the annual photo that the president and the first lady typically take, there was the “candy bowl,” which had full-sized candy bars. 

Lara Trump speaking during the 10X Ladies Conference Miami 2024 at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa on August 16, 2024 in Aventura, Florida. (Photo by Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
Lara Trump speaking during the 10X Ladies Conference Miami 2024 at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa on August 16, 2024, in Aventura, Florida (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)

Trump’s daughter-in-law reveals family Christmas traditions

Lara Trump stated that on Christmas Eve, there was a church service and dinner, and the family typically attended Bethesda-by-the-Sea.

She also revealed that the candlelight vigil and the requisite hymns were “a favorite” of the youngest children who knew all the songs.

However, Christmas morning was “a little more challenging.”

“Santa shows up, and he’s got all the gifts at everybody’s particular house,” she said.

U.S. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to a Marine One departure at the White House June 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Trump is spending the weekend with his family in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump walk on the South Lawn prior to a Marine One departure at the White House, June 30, 2017, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Lara added that after opening the gifts at their respective houses, the family gathered together to spend the rest of the day together. She added that it was the only annual occasion where the extended family got together and spent time with each other.

Lara also stated that the president liked to speak to “world leaders” on Christmas Day and also to his “closest family members.”

The family wrapped up the day with a family dinner during which Lara Trump made her chocolate peppermint trifle.

“It’s always destroyed by the end of the night,” she said.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20:  President Donald Trump kisses his son Eric Trump after his inauguratio
President Donald Trump kisses his son Eric Trump after his inauguration on the West Front of the US Capitol on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Lara Trump reflects on how family celebrations have evolved

Lara also told the publication that the way the family celebrated Christmas had changed “drastically” from its previous form.

“A decade into their patriarch’s pouncing into politics is prone to being quarantined on Christmas,” she said.

Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law stated that their Mar-a-Lago gatherings used to be rather intimate, along with some guests who were able to “relax and enjoy the holiday.”

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 05: Tesla CEO Elon Musk (R) endorses Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds on October 05, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. This is the first time that Trump has returned to Butler since he was injured during an attempted assassination on July 13th. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk endorses Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds on October 05, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

She said that the celebrations since then have grown into “such a monster now” that the receptions now could fit up to 700 guests. 

She added that they had to be “roped off as a family” now, which was “a little bit different holiday situation.” She also revealed that in 2024, Elon Musk and his mother joined the Trump family for Christmas dinner.

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