Key Takeaways
- The White House has resumed public tours after a three-month hiatus due to renovations, including the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a new ballroom.
- The tours have a smaller footprint this year, starting and finishing in the North Portico and including stops in the East Room, Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room, and State Dining Room.
- The White House decorations, personally selected by First Lady Melania Trump, feature 75 wreaths, 51 Christmas trees, and over 2,000 strands of light.
- The official White House Christmas Tree is 18-feet tall and features gold stars and white globe ornaments with designs of state birds and flowers from all 56 U.S. states and territories.
- The renovations, including the demolition of the East Wing, have sparked controversy and opposition from a majority of Americans.
Introduction to the White House Tours
The White House has resumed public tours, just in time for the holiday season. However, this year’s tours will have a much smaller footprint due to the ongoing renovations, including the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a new ballroom. The tours were on a three-month hiatus, and the public will now have the opportunity to see the White House decorations, personally selected by First Lady Melania Trump, with a theme of "Home Is Where The Heart Is." The tours will start and finish in the North Portico and include stops in the East Room, Blue Room, Green Room, Red Room, and State Dining Room.
The Demolition of the East Wing
The demolition of the East Wing has sparked controversy and opposition from a majority of Americans. The project, which is estimated to cost $300 million, has been criticized for its high cost and the impact it will have on the historic White House. The East Wing, which was previously a part of the public tour route, is no longer accessible to visitors. A semi-permanent structure has been erected on the North Lawn for security screening of guests, and the tours will now follow a new route. The demolition has also sparked outrage, with some suggesting that the excavators tearing into the East Wing are a metaphor for President Trump’s approach to the government since returning to office.
The White House Decorations
The White House decorations, personally selected by First Lady Melania Trump, feature 75 wreaths, 51 Christmas trees, and over 2,000 strands of light. The official White House Christmas Tree is 18-feet tall and features gold stars and white globe ornaments with designs of state birds and flowers from all 56 U.S. states and territories. The tree was decorated by Gold Star families, who lost a loved one as a result of active-duty military service. The Green Room "celebrates family fun" and features large Lego portraits of President George Washington and President Trump, each containing 6,000 Lego bricks.
The Red Room and East Room Decorations
The Red Room features more than 10,000 blue butterflies, meant to celebrate young people, including those who have experienced foster care. The room also features ornaments on the Christmas tree that say "Be Best" and a ribbon threading through the branches that reads "Fostering the Future," two of the first lady’s initiatives. The East Room is decorated to mark America’s 250th anniversary and showcases the patriotic colors of the flag and national symbols. A large golden curtain covers what President Trump has described as a "knock out wall," which will lead to the massive ballroom he plans to build where the East Wing once stood.
The State Dining Room and Gingerbread White House
The State Dining Room is home to the highlight of the tour, the gingerbread White House. This year’s gingerbread White House depicts the White House as viewed from the South Lawn, with a giant American flag made of sugar. The second floor of the gingerbread South Portico is open, allowing viewers to get a glimpse of the Yellow Oval, a room in the private residence where first families gather. The gingerbread White House contains 120 pounds of gingerbread dough, 100 pounds of pastillage dough, 10 pounds of chocolate, and 5 pounds of royal icing. Other than a few small lights, everything else is made of something that can be eaten.
Conclusion and Renovations
The White House renovations, including the demolition of the East Wing, have sparked controversy and opposition from a majority of Americans. While the East Room demolition is the highest-profile project since President Trump returned to office, the president has been on a remodeling spree, making changes to the White House at a frenetic pace. The Rose Garden has been transformed into a patio surrounded by flowers, modeled after an outdoor space at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The Oval Office is now gilded from floor to ceiling, and the Lincoln bathroom in the residence has also gotten a major makeover featuring a lot of marble. Tour tickets can be requested through members of Congress, who get an allotment for their constituents.