She stood in the cold Washington air, wrapped in a tailored winter coat, greeting the horse-drawn carriage as if no time had passed. The Fraser fir, fresh from a North Carolina farm, seemed almost symbolic—rooted elsewhere, yet chosen to stand at the heart of American power. Melania Trump’s words about unity, hope, and the beauty of the season carried a quiet weight, hinting at a country still wrestling with its reflection.
Inside, staff will transform the Blue Room, layer by careful layer, into a glowing tribute to American craftsmanship and family traditions. The yet-unrevealed theme adds a touch of suspense, but the real story is simpler: rituals endure, even when politics divide. As the lights are strung and ornaments hung, the tree will stand as a reminder that some traditions are bigger than any one administration—and that, for a moment, the nation still pauses to look up.