Melania Trump kicks off first holiday season since 2020 with fall-themed White House Halloween decor
WASHINGTON, DC: First lady Melania Trump has officially ushered in the holiday season at the White House, unveiling this year’s Halloween decorations on Tuesday, October 28.
The reveal marks her first full holiday season since 2020. Sharing a glimpse of the setup on X (formerly Twitter), the first lady’s office wrote, “The @whitehouse is getting ready for Halloween,” accompanied by a photo showing the decorations in progress.
Instead of embracing spooky imagery, the decor evokes a warm, autumnal atmosphere with pumpkins and fall foliage. The White House’s Halloween event is scheduled for Thursday, October 30.
The @whitehouse is getting ready for Halloween 🎃 pic.twitter.com/J7LAs6hqfl
— Office of the First Lady (@FirstLadyOffice) October 28, 2025
Melania Trump brings fall elegance back to the White House for Halloween 2025
The 2025 Halloween display transforms the back of the Executive Residence into a warm, fall-themed tableau. Rows of pumpkins line the staircases, while hanging leaves drape gracefully between the South Portico’s iconic columns. The result is a harvest-inspired aesthetic rather than a haunted one.
A wide shot shared by her office on X reveals soft orange hues accented by a sign that reads “Halloween 2025” in bold letters.
It’s a stark contrast to Melania Trump’s earlier Halloween displays. In 2019, her design featured eerie lighting and shadowy trees, while the 2020 socially distanced celebration leaned into rustic autumn tones with more variety. This year’s return to simplicity appears to mark a fresh chapter for the first lady.
Melania last decorated the White House for Halloween in 2020, before her husband, Donald Trump, left office the following January. During the next administration, first lady Jill Biden, wife of Joe Biden, carried on the holiday traditions. Now, with the Trumps back for a second term, Melania has returned to bring her signature elegance and festive touch to the White House once again.
After a four-year hiatus from official White House holiday events, sources close to Melania told PEOPLE in late 2024 that she plans to “revive tradition” during her husband’s second term.
“Melania will do what she is asked as first lady but under her own terms, and that includes decorating the White House for the Christmas holidays,” a social source in Palm Beach told the outlet. “She will set her own schedule, make her own rules, and use her own taste.”
Melania Trump to host 2025 WH Halloween celebration amid govt shutdown
Even as the government shutdown continues, Halloween festivities are set to go on without interruption. The first lady has confirmed that she and President Donald Trump will host the annual celebration on October 30, opening the South Lawn to trick-or-treaters for a night of festive fun.
A spokesperson for Melania’s office told HELLO! that “The first lady and her staff look forward to the holiday season and continuing the many wonderful traditions of the White Housesta, rting with Halloween at the White House.” The statement also thanked the partners and volunteers helping to bring the event to life for children and families.
This year’s celebration will welcome invited guests, including military families, law enforcement officers and their children, and foster and adoptive families. The evening will feature live music from the United States Air Force Strolling Strings, toy mail trucks provided by the Postal Service, a BE BEST postcard station for kids, and a giant pumpkin photo backdrop, according to the publication.
