
First Lady Melania Trump made a stunning appearance at the Congressional Ball on Thursday, lighting up the White House Grand Foyer in a white floor-length dress as President Donald Trump avoided talk about his impeachment process moving ahead.

All eyes were on Melania who appeared in a $4,000 crystal-embellished cape-effect silk-crepe gown from Lebanese designer Reem Acra, which is recommended for a wedding ceremony or reception as it pools at the bottom and has a chiffon lining to ensure coverage.

But POTUS took the time to point out her flair for interior decoration rather than her fashion sense - which has seen her wearing the cape style and the Beirut-born designer before.

After thanking Karen and Mike Pence for attending, Donald Trump said: 'I want to congratulate Melania, she did such a beautiful job with the decorations.'

He'd began his speech by making the audience laugh after he brushed past impeachment talk and said it had been a 'very exciting month in Washington, DC'.

First Lady Melania Trump made a stunning appearance at the Congressional Ball in Washington DC Thursday

POTUS took the time to point out her flair for interior decoration as he said Melania had done a great job with the place

Melania Trump wore a $4,000 crystal-embellished cape-effect silk-crepe gown from Lebanese designer Reem Acra

The dress is from a Beirut-born designer who started out in bridal in 1997, working her way into eveningwear six years later. The item is recommended for a wedding ceremony or reception as it pools beautifully at the bottom and has a chiffon lining to ensure coverage and a smooth finish

'We're very proud of this country, we're very proud of this home,' he added about the DC property which opted to ditch red in favor of green decor this year.

Melania kept one thing about the Ball the same however, her choice to wear white. In 2018 she opted for an old Celine design.

'We call it a home. Some presidents called it a house some presidents called it much worse,' Trump laughed while stood at the podium embellished with a golden eagle. 'We love the White House it's a special place and this country is a special country.'

It was as the Judiciary Committee members continued to debate articles of impeachment with much of the focus on a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

Trump has also instructed current and former members of his administration not to testify or produce documents, leading senior officials like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to defy House subpoenas and Democrats say that behavior by Trump constitutes obstruction of Congress.

'Our country is doing really great,' the American leader said. 'We have the best economy we've ever had in the history of our country. The stock market just hit a brand new high. That would be 129 records in really much substantially less than three years.'

Trump went on: 'The stock market just hit a brand new high. That would be 129 records in really much substantially less than three years'

President Donald Trump with first lady Melania Trump walk down the stairs from the residence to speak in the Grand Foyer

Trump is seen emerging into the area that Melania had decorated with several lit-up Christmas trees

The pair held hands in front of the podium as Melania showcased her somewhat modest ensemble from a side angle

Trump thanked Karen and Mike Pence for attending their event and shook the hand of the Vice President's wife

He went on to predict: 'We're going to have the best year we've had in many, many decades'

First lady Melania Trump listens as United States President Donald J. Trump (not pictured) makes remarks at the Congressional Ball at the White House in Washington

Melania couldn't help but smile as Trump complimented her and boasted about the achievements of the country

President Donald Trump with first lady Melania Trump speaks in the Grand Foyer of the White House during the Congressional Ball as he wished everyone happy holiday season

Spotted mingling among the crowd were House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) and U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito.

Before wishing everyone a Happy New Year, Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah, Trump went on to predict: 'We're going to have the best year we've had in many, many decades.

'This is -- we're set up for one great, big, beautiful success.'

Melania tweeted that it was a 'beautiful evening at the White House'.

Trump then went down to greet guests and remained in good spirits despite the fact the House Judiciary Committee is expected to approve two articles of impeachment late Thursday.

It sets up a vote by the Democratic-controlled House next week that is expected to make Trump the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.

Congressman Mark Meadows (R-NC) is pictured left and U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito is seen (right)

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is seen chatting at the annual winter event in Washington DC on Thursday

If the House impeaches Trump, who is charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, he would then go on trial in the Senate. The Republican-led chamber is unlikely to vote to find the president guilty and remove him from office.

Republicans on the Judiciary panel repeatedly complained about the procedures followed by Democrats in the impeachment inquiry, and said Democrats had overplayed their hand in a desperate attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election.

Republicans requested another hearing and said their rights had been trampled in the inquiry, but were voted down by the panel's Democratic majority. Republicans also moved to strike the first charge of abuse of power, but the committee rejected it on a party-line vote.

White House counsel Pat Cipollone and legislative liaison Eric Ueland met on Thursday afternoon with Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader to discuss the potential for a Senate trial.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and condemned the impeachment inquiry as a hoax.

Trump greeted attendees at the event before telling of his love of his 'home' at the White House

President Donald Trump with first lady Melania Trump greets guests in the Grand Foyer of the White House during the Congressional Ball

'No crime!' Trump wrote on Twitter early Thursday.

A Senate trial is expected next month on the charges. Senior Republicans in the chamber appeared to be moving toward a consensus that a streamlined proceeding with no witnesses would allow Trump and the Senate to end the matter and quickly move on.

Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said he thought the Senate trial would last a week to two weeks at most.

'The sooner we can dismiss it the better. Especially when it's going to be 10 months from the next election,' Cramer said.

But Republican Senator John Cornyn floated a possible hybrid approach. He said he favored a Senate trial that would have private depositions of witnesses with excerpts provided to the 100 senators 'rather than call live witnesses, which might rival the three-ring circus in the House of Representatives.'

He said the idea was presented to White House lawyers but no decisions had been made.

Trump was seen shaking hands with guests and greeting people after he made a speech at the White House