‘Baby, Do Me a Favor’: Trump Begs Melania to ‘Make the Trees Green’ After She Was Mocked for Her Past Christmas Decor

President Donald Trump turned a White House Christmas reception on Sunday, into a charming retrospective on First Lady Melania Trump’s holiday decorations, humorously admitting he “begged” her to choose classic green trees this year to evade the relentless media criticism that shadowed her more daring designs during his first term.

The president’s affectionate banter, delivered with Melania beaming beside him, provided a warm, personal interlude in the glittering State Floor rooms, while showing the couple’s shared history with one of the most scrutinized traditions in American public life.

The event welcomed hundreds of guests—diplomats, lawmakers, administration officials, and military families—to tour the magnificently adorned public spaces, where the air carried the scent of fresh evergreens and the glow of thousands of lights reflected off historic chandeliers. Against this backdrop, Trump seized the moment to celebrate Melania’s efforts, blending pride, playful jealousy and a dash of marital advice.

“We love our first lady. They love our first lady,” Trump began, scanning the admiring crowd with mock exasperation. “What can I do? I don’t like it because I think they like her more than they like me. And I am not happy about it. I am not happy. We’re going to have to have a discussion about this.”

The quip drew laughter, setting a jovial tone as Trump pivoted to substantive acclaim: “Melania did all of these decorations and she’s gotten great reviews.” He then embarked on a nostalgic recap of past seasons, framing them as battles against “fake news.”

“The first year, year one, she did the trees, they were white, and they were so, you know, snow, beautiful, and the fake news hit her hard,” he recalled. “The next year, they were red, gorgeous red. They hit her hard. The next year, they were another color. They hit her.”

Anticipating another round of scrutiny, Trump shared his preemptive counsel: “I said, ‘Baby, do me a favor. Do me a favor. Make the trees green. Let them just be green. They’re so beautiful. Let them be green.'”

The tactic succeeded spectacularly: “Anyway, she has gotten the greatest reviews I’ve ever seen. And nobody has ever gotten reviews like this for the White House,” Trump boasted, before adding a candid confession: “I actually like the white ones better, but what am I? She has done a great job.”

He reprised the theme at the previous week’s Congressional Ball, declaring the current display “the best”—yet reminiscing fondly about the bolder choices. “Although I liked the red trees. She got criticized for the red trees. Then I liked the white trees, and she was criticized for the white trees. Then I liked the green trees, and she got criticized, and she went back to green, and they love it. So I don’t know what’s going on.”

Did You Know?:GOP Faces ‘Explosive Resignations’ as Reps Tire of Being Treated ‘Like Garbage’: Insider

Evolution of Melania’s Holiday Vision

White House Christmas decorations have long served as a first lady’s signature creative outlet, reflecting personal style while adhering to—or challenging—public expectations of warmth, tradition, and Americana. Most opt for safe palettes: lush greens, twinkling lights, handmade ornaments from children nationwide, and nods to patriotism.

Melania, however, brought a distinctive, high-fashion sensibility from her modeling background and European roots. Her 2017 debut transformed the East Colonnade into a ethereal pathway of bare branches dusted white, evoking a snowy, timeless forest—intended as elegant minimalism but widely memed as eerie or “haunted.”

The following year’s crimson trees—vibrant, shaggy evergreens in the Cross Hall—drew even sharper reactions. The New York Times published “There Will Be Blood-Red Trees,” evoking dystopian imagery, while outlets like The Cut ranked her seasons from “Most to Least Haunted.” Social media erupted with parodies, superimposing horror film scenes onto the scarlet backdrop.

Subsequent years blended experimentation with tradition, but the early controversies lingered, often overshadowing the thoughtful details: ornaments honoring Gold Star families, children’s artwork, or historical tributes.

This year marked a deliberate return to convention under the theme “Home is Where the Heart Is.” Cross Hall features towering green evergreens adorned with gold baubles, deep-red ribbons, and ornaments symbolizing family milestones. Rooms throughout showcase nativities, gingerbread replicas of national landmarks, and interactive elements for visiting children.

The White House explained that Melania drew inspiration from “the joys, challenges, and frequent motion derived from motherhood and business.” In her official statement, the First Lady, 55, elaborated: “The constant movement has taught me that home is not merely a physical space; rather, it is the warmth and comfort I carry within, regardless of my surroundings. This Christmas, let’s celebrate the love we hold within ourselves, and share it with the world around us. After all, wherever we are, we can create a home filled with grace, radiance, and endless possibilities.”

Trending:‘A Day With Grandpa’: Karoline Leavitt, 28, Accused of Manipulating Photo to Make Her 60-Year-Old Husband Look Younger

The Infamous Leaked Tape

The renewed praise coincides with fresh discussion of Melania’s 2018 secretly recorded audio, leaked in 2020, where she vented: “I’m working … my ass off on the Christmas stuff, that you know, who gives a f— about the Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right?”

Former chief of staff Stephanie Grisham—who parted ways acrimoniously after January 6—recently provided context to the Daily Mail. “She loves the holiday and she loves the events that have to do with children,” Grisham insisted. Melania invested “a lot of time and attention to detail” in decorations, particularly child-centric features.

The frustration, Grisham clarified, arose from relentless public and media criticism of her aesthetic choices, not the task itself. “She’s definitely not a Grinch,” she added, countering narratives that painted the First Lady as detached.

TOP STORIES

• Melania’s Cryptic White House Announcement Throws Trump into Disarray: ‘I Don’t Know What She’s Doing’
• ‘Don’t Cheat on Him Too’: Trolls Flood Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Post After She Reshared Her Engagement Photo
• Karoline Leavitt Drops Raw Photo of ‘Handsome’ Husband, 60, After She Was Mocked Over Photo Manipulation

White House holiday preparations involve months of planning, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of ornaments—often handmade contributions from across the country. Melania’s teams have consistently incorporated meaningful elements: tributes to first responders, military families, and historical White House artifacts.

In the second term, with a lower public profile than some predecessors, Melania has focused selectively on initiatives like child welfare, online safety (via the revived “Be Best”), and these seasonal spectacles. Her 2025 decor has earned widespread approval for its elegance and accessibility, hosting tours for schoolchildren and charitable events.