Melania sweetens White House grounds by adding two new honey bee colonies… with a delicious twist

By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 17:19, 24 April 2026 | Updated: 17:23, 24 April 2026 First Lady Melania Trump has given the White House honey program a high-profile makeover, introducing a 'be-spoke' new residence for the South Lawn's hardest-working occupants. In a new video released by the White House, the First Lady revealed specially curated jars of 'White House Honey,' complete with elegant cursive labeling. The expansion adds two new colonies to the existing pair, effectively doubling the South Lawn apiary's workforce. The star of the show is undoubtedly the new hive itself. Designed by Executive Residence staff and hand-crafted by a local Virginia artisan, the structure is a perfect architectural tribute to the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue mansion. The addition is expected to boost the annual honey yield by an estimated 30 pounds, bringing the total yearly haul to a staggering 230 to 255 pounds. During the peak summer months, the buzzing population can reach as many as 70,000 bees. The First Lady's bees aren't just making snacks; they are vital 'green' employees. The colonies will pollinate the White House Kitchen Garden, the Flower Cutting Garden and even nearby vegetation on the National Mall. In a new video released by the White House, the First Lady revealed specially curated jars of 'White House Honey,' complete with elegant cursive labeling First Lady Melania Trump has given the White House honey program a high-profile makeover, introducing a 'be-spoke' new residence for the South Lawn's hardest-working occupants Designed by Executive Residence staff and hand-crafted by a local Virginia artisan, the structure is a perfect architectural tribute to the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue mansion The expansion adds two new colonies to the existing pair, effectively doubling the South Lawn apiary's workforce The colonies will pollinate the White House Kitchen Garden, the Flower Cutting Garden, and even nearby vegetation on the National Mall While the program was officially formalized in 2009, born from the hobby of White House carpenter Charlie Brandt, Melania Trump's latest expansion cements beekeeping as a permanent tradition of the South Grounds White House chefs use the clover-and-citrus-infused nectar to sweeten official teas, craft decadent desserts and whisk into signature salad dressings for state dinners. The liquid gold is also packaged as exclusive official gifts from the President and First Lady or donated to local food kitchens to support healthy eating initiatives. While the program was officially formalized in 2009, born from the hobby of White House carpenter Charlie Brandt, Melania Trump's latest expansion cements beekeeping as a permanent tradition of the South Grounds. Beyond the jars and the kitchen, the project serves as a 'living classroom.' Visitors to the South Lawn may now get a front-row seat to the magic of pollination, learning exactly how those 70,000 bees help put food on the table. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.