Trending Now - Melania Trump Expands White House Honey Initiative With New Hive
WHO:
ABC News - Melania Trump announced the expansion of the White House honey program.
TMZ - Melania Trump is running the honey operation at the White House.
WHAT:
USA Today - The new beehive is a miniature version of the presidential residence.
USA Today - The honey produced has a "light clover and basswood flavor, with a subtle hint of citrus."
USA Today - Executive residence chefs use the honey to sweeten teas, prepare salad dressings, and craft desserts.
USA Today - Four bee colonies are now part of the White House honey program.
ABC News - The existing beehives can swell to about 70,000 bees during peak summer months.
ABC News - The White House uses clover honey for preparing meals, as official gifts, and in donations to food kitchens.
ABC News - The bees also help pollinate a nearby produce garden and a flower cutting garden started by then-first lady Michelle Obama in 2009.
ABC News - Melania Trump is adding a beehive in the shape of the White House to the existing two beehives.
ABC News - The existing hives can produce 200 pounds to 225 pounds (91 to 102 kilograms) of honey in a year.
ABC News - The new hive is expected to increase honey production by about 30 pounds (13.6 kilograms).
IJR - The bees on the property are currently producing about 200 or more pounds of honey in a productive year.
WHERE:
ABC News - The beehives are located on the south grounds of the White House.
ABC News - The new hive was funded through the Trust for the National Mall.
WHEN:
ABC News - The announcement was made on Friday, April 22nd, 2026.
ABC News - The existing beehives have been on the south grounds since 2009.
WHY:
ABC News - The honey produced is used to prepare meals, as official gifts from the president and first lady, and in donations to food kitchens.
ABC News - The beekeeping program began in 2009 after a White House carpenter started beekeeping as a hobby.
HOW:
USA Today - The bees are managed by White House Chief Horticulturist Dale Haney and local beekeepers.
ABC News - The hive and base were designed by White House residence staff and hand-made by a Virginia artisan.
ABC News - The hive and the base were designed by White House residence staff and hand-made by a Virginia artisan.
(UPDATED April 25, 2026 03:54 UTC)
A new miniature beehive has been established at the White House, featuring four bee colonies as part of the White House honey program. The honey produced boasts a light clover and basswood flavor, with a subtle hint of citrus, and is being used by executive residence chefs to sweeten teas, prepare salad dressings, and craft desserts. The bees are managed by White House Chief Horticulturist Dale Haney along with local beekeepers.
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(UPDATED April 24, 2026 23:11 UTC)
The White House beehives can swell to about 70,000 bees during the peak summer months and play a vital role in pollinating a nearby produce garden and a flower cutting garden that was started by then-first lady Michelle Obama in 2009. The clover honey produced by these bees is used in preparing meals, as official gifts, and in donations to food kitchens. The hive and base were designed by the White House residence staff and hand-made by a Virginia artisan.
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(UPDATED April 24, 2026 17:20 UTC)
Melania Trump announced the expansion of the White House honey program on Wednesday, revealing plans to add a new beehive shaped like the White House to the existing two hives located on the south grounds. The current hives, which have been in place since 2009, produce between 200 and 225 pounds of honey annually, and the new hive is expected to boost production by about 30 pounds. The honey harvested is used for preparing meals, as official gifts, and for donations to food kitchens, with the new hive funded through the Trust for the National Mall.