Christmas Tree selections and turkey pardons are traditions going back to President Abraham Lincoln.
There’ll be big holiday happenings at the White House this week to mark the traditions many Americans have come to rely on.
On Monday, First Lady Melania Trump will be on hand at the North Drive of the White House to welcome the 2025 National Christmas Tree. The event will take place at 12 p.m.
Melania Trump will be joined by Rex and Jessica Korson of Korson’s Tree Farms in Michigan, who are the Grand Champions of the National Christmas Tree Association’s (NCTA) National Tree Contest. Rick Dungey, the Executive Director of the NCTA, will be on hand to acknowledge the Korsons.
“Korson’s Tree Farms earned the title of 2025 NCTA Grand Champion Growers by winning the NCTA National Tree Contest in July 2025. Along with the designation as Grand Champion, they also earned the opportunity to present one of their trees to First Lady Melania Trump as the Official White House Christmas Tree,” a White House news release said.
“Korson’s Tree Farms is the first Grand Champion from the state of Michigan since 1985. The tree was selected from Korson’s Tree Farms in September 2025 by White House Superintendent of Grounds Dale Haney.”
The winners of that contest have traditionally provided the official White House Christmas Tree since 1966.
Later in the day, a kinder, gentler tradition comes into play when President Donald Trump and Melania Trump will spare the life of a turkey only a few days before Thanksgiving.
In a more jovial tradition, the President officially pardons a turkey or two just before the Thanksgiving Day festivities. It’s a tradition that dates back to President Abraham Lincoln, who pardoned a turkey’s life at the request of his son, Tad Lincoln, in 1863.
Even modern-day Presidents offered turkey pardons, such as John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. It was President George H.W. Bush who made it a formal tradition in 1989.