President Trump and first lady light National Christmas Tree
Trump, Melania attend Christmas tree lighting
On Thursday, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participated in the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at The Ellipse at President's Park in Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump let first lady Melania Trump light the National Christmas Tree at a ceremony in the nation’s capital Thursday evening.
The ceremony began at 6 p.m. ET and the Beach Boys and Alana Springsteen were scheduled to perform near the ceremony.
RELATED: White House Christmas 2025 decorations: First lady reveals 'Home Is Where the Heart Is' theme
First lady lights National Christmas Tree
What they're saying:
"The first lady is going to do the honors," Trump told the audience.
He counted down from five to zero, and Melania Trump stepped forward and pressed a button that made the tree behind them light up.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the National Christmas Tree Lighting at the Ellipse in Washington, DC, on December 4, 2025. (Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)
"It’s a beautiful job they did in creating that tree," Trump said after the lighting. "It's a beauty."
In his remarks, he also discussed the peace deal signed earlier Thursday between Rwanda and Congo, along with the upcoming World Cup and Summer Olympics being held in the United States in 2026.
In addition, Trump also thanked everyone who serves, including the law enforcement officers, first responders and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents.
The president also mentioned the two National Guard members who were shot, one fatally, near the White House.
"I just want to pay my respects to the two incredible people," he said.
He ended his brief remarks thanking everyone who attended the lighting.
"We have to take care of everybody in our country," Trump said. "I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy near year."
Where is the National Christmas Tree located?
Dig deeper:
The National Christmas Tree is located south of the White House on the Ellipse. This year’s Christmas tree is a 35-foot red spruce from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.
When was the first National Christmas Tree lighting?
The backstory:
According to the National Park Service, the tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree started on Christmas Eve in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit a 48-foot Balsam Fir from Vermont decorated with 2,500 red, white, and green electric bulbs.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the National Park Service, the White House communications office and the New York Post. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.