Last night, the White House glimmered with holiday spirit as President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted the annual Congressional Ball in the Grand Foyer. A long-standing tradition, the event brings lawmakers together across party lines to celebrate the season and reflect on the year’s accomplishments.
For the occasion, Melania Trump leaned into a sleek, understated elegance. She wore a black velvet Dolce & Gabbana single-breasted blazer, sharply nipped at the waist, paired with matching tailored cigarette trousers.
She wore a sheer high-necked black embroidered blouse, which added a touch of texture and romanticism. Her blonde-highlighted hair flowed in signature waves, with bangs swept to the side, and pointed nude nails completed the look.
On Sunday, she joined President Trump at the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors, marking the first time a sitting president hosted the gala. She chose a sleeveless black wool gown from Givenchy’s fall 2025 collection, featuring a modest round neckline and column silhouette. Her choice of the French-owned label was likely intentional, as LVMH, which owns Givenchy and other favorites of the first lady, including Dior, produced the honorees’ medallions.
The first lady has long demonstrated a preference for high-end European labels, stepping out in Dior suits, Dolce & Gabbana gowns, and Manolo Blahnik heels. But over the past year, she has increasingly incorporated American designers into her wardrobe.
Melania used the Congressional Ball to offer lawmakers a glimpse of her next project. “I hope you will be excited to support my new legislative initiative in 2026. Some of you already know about it, because it is already in the works,” she told the audience. President Trump admitted he had “just heard about that for the first time,” but added, “I know one thing for sure. It is going to be great for children.”
The new initiative is believed to be connected to Melania’s recently announced 'Fostering the Future' program, an extension of her 'Be Best' campaign launched during Donald Trump’s first term.
Melania has previously faced criticism for her advocacy, particularly around cyber-bullying, with detractors pointing to the president’s penchant for online attacks.
Speaking in 2018 at the Family Online Safety Institute’s annual conference, she said, “It is not news or surprising to me that critics and the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking out on this issue, and that’s okay.”