The North Portico was drenched in tradition on November 24, 2025, but all eyes weren't on the 18-and-a-half-foot Christmas tree that arrived in a horse-drawn carriage. They were on her.
First Lady Melania Trump took center stage in Washington, D.C., as she welcomed the official White House Christmas tree, marking the festive season's ceremonial beginning. But the moment, meant to showcase holiday cheer and Americana tradition, quickly spiraled into something else entirely online: a conversation about her eye-catching outfit.
Escorted by a military band's joyful tunes, the stunning Michigan-grown fir from Korson's Tree Farms rolled up to the executive residence in a grand carriage drawn by two stately Clydesdale horses named Logan and Ben. Accompanying the horses were three men dressed in old-fashioned suits and top hats.
The Coat Seen 'Round the Internet
Standing on the steps of the North Portico, Trump greeted the arrival in her signature composed style, declaring it "a beautiful tree" as she posed beside the carriage for photos. But while the tree would soon stand tall in the Blue Room, the public's focus shifted to a different kind of presentation.
Trump's look was anything but subtle. Dressed in a pristine Dior coat, she paired the winter-white ensemble with bright red leather gloves and tartan-patterned Manolo Blahnik stilettos. The sharp contrast, snowy elegance mixed with bold holiday hues, had the internet in a frenzy.
And not everyone was dazzled.
"She wore her pajama robe," one netizen sneered. Another jabbed, "White bathrobe and red rubber gloves." One viewer simply declared, "She's literally wearing a bathrobe."
Still, the fashion police weren't all issuing citations.
"Melania is rockin [sic] her plaid stilettos ♥️," one fan gushed on Facebook. Another chimed in, "She has the best shoes. Every.Time [sic]."
Others went beyond fashion and praised her entire presence.
"She is beautiful and sophisticated. Poise and gracefulness," one netizen wrote. Another added, "Elegance is back in the White House."
Holiday Hair Transformation Sparks Praise From Experts
While her coat sparked fierce debate, it wasn't the only part of Trump's appearance that caught attention. The First Lady unveiled a glowing new hair color, and salon experts were quick to weigh in.
Suzie McGill, the artistic director at Rainbow Room International, gushed about the dramatic transformation, revealing to Hello! that the vibrant, lighter shade was a perfect match for the First Lady's complexion.
McGill went on to explain that this was a polished upgrade that instantly illuminated Trump's entire look, ensuring she never appeared overdone. Also, the brighter color injected a bold, modern energy, yet still perfectly captured the signature, impeccable elegance and iconic style that have made her famous.
Meanwhile, Rush Artistic team member Kirsty Judge dubbed the color "cinnamon blonde," hailing it as a sophisticated seasonal stunner.
Judge further detailed that this gorgeous, tawny, beige blonde features a rich, warm acorn foundation highlighted by delicate swirls of vanilla blonde pieces woven throughout the hair for a burst of brilliance.
Tapes From the Past Haunt the Present
Yet not even the glitz of Dior or the warmth of cinnamon blonde could entirely erase the shadow of controversy that loomed from Christmases past.
The First Lady's tree-receiving ceremony stirred memories of a very different moment, one that became public in 2020, when secretly recorded tapes from summer 2018 were played on "Anderson Cooper 360."
In those conversations, Melania Trump vented about the pressures of public appearances during a highly scrutinized time for her husband's first administration.
"I'm working … my [expletive] off on the Christmas stuff, that you know, who gives a [expletive] about the Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right?" she was heard saying.
A Friendship Implosion
Those damning tapes were secretly recorded by her former confidante Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a woman who had once been one of her closest friends. Stephanie Grisham, Trump's then–chief of staff, responded swiftly and sharply.
"Secretly taping the First Lady and willfully breaking an NDA to publish a salacious book is a clear attempt at relevance," Grisham fired back in a statement. "The timing of this continues to be suspect — as does this never-ending exercise in self-pity and narcissism."
But the tapes weren't the end. Wolkoff also published a tell-all book, "Melania and Me," which laid bare more than just Christmas tension. Wolkoff detailed years of conversations with Trump, covering everything from her marriage to Michelle Obama, controversial wardrobe choices, and more.
According to a former staff member at Vogue, the two women had once been inseparable, part of the same elite Manhattan circles. Wolkoff later became Trump's senior adviser, helping her craft speeches and build her "Be Best" initiative.
But it all came crashing down when scrutiny over the 2017 inauguration's lavish spending led to an investigation.
Wolkoff's event planning firm reportedly received over $26 million for inaugural activities, while she herself pocketed $500,000, according to the New York Times, and $1.6 million went directly to her company per documents obtained by CNN.
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