On Thursday evening, December 4, 2025, the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse near the White House was lit by First Lady Melania Trump, following a countdown by President Donald Trump. Gold lights blossomed behind the podium as the ceremony opened with holiday music and a sense of national pageantry.
The ceremony featured performances by The Beach Boys along with Christian and country artists including Matthew West, Gabby Barrett, Jon Pardi, Alana Springsteen, Brett Young and Warren Zeiders, offering a mix of classic and contemporary holiday tunes.
During his remarks, President Trump touched on a Rwanda–Democratic Republic of Congo peace deal and addressed ongoing political topics, including references to the 2020 election and future plans for hosting major events in the United States, framing them as hopeful updates for the nation.
The lighting ceremony is a long-standing White House Christmas tradition that blends holiday celebration with political messaging and national symbolism, a moment captured by cameras and shared across outlets. Coverage came from AP, BBC, PBS NewsHour, WTOP, Detroit News and YouTube, highlighting the event’s broad reach across national and international audiences.