Trump Demolishes Iconic White House Rose Garden

The iconic White House Rose Garden is completely paved over after President Donald Trump ordered it to be completely reconstructed. Since returning to the White House, the commander-in-chief has made some significant changes including a transformation of the Oval Office. He has added gold medallions, gold vermeil figurines, gold eagles and gilded Rococo mirrors to the main office of the president and is now looking to build an extravagant ballroom where the Rose Garden once stood.

Trump’s Plans

There have also been reports that Trump’s new ballroom in the White House is meant to resemble the one at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago. A recent image shows the continuation of renovation work at the Rose Garden, indicating that the lawn has now been completely removed. The image shows the lawn covered with a blue tarp. It was taken shortly after reporters noticed that work had begun in the Rose Garden. Earlier images show the process of the garden being paved over. There were images of construction crews digging up the grass, then poles and mud in the garden area. Shortly after, photos of the garden were shared, showing it covered in what appeared to be gravel. The most recent image revealed that the garden was now fully paved over.

Trump Paves Over Garden

Trump had previously said he would pave over the Rose Garden because the grass is always wet, and it’s an inconvenience for women in high heels. In a March interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, Trump explained the decision to put down concrete and design something more similar to a presidential patio. “You know, we use [the Rose Garden] for press conferences, and it doesn’t work because the people fall,” he said. “The terrain can be wet, and the soft ground can be an issue for some. … Women with the high heels, it just didn’t work.” Trump posted on his social media site Truth Social about the ballroom he promised. He wrote that he had inspected the site for the ballroom, saying it will be a “wonderful addition” and is an example of the “‘fun’ projects I do while thinking about the World Economy, the United States, China, Russia, and lots of other Countries, places, and events.”

The Garden’s History

The Rose Garden was created in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson. It was redesigned in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to serve as a space for outdoor ceremonies. It has since become a regular venue for various events including receptions, press briefings and other occasions.

Melania’s 2020 Rose Garden

First Lady Melania Trump faced significant backlash when she initially revamped the Rose Garden in 2020. The first lady ended up making a rare public statement after NBC News presidential historian Michael Beschloss ridiculed her vision for the garden’s lawn as “grim.” Said Beschloss in 2021, “Evisceration of White House Rose Garden was completed a year ago this month, and here was the grim result — decades of American history made to disappear.” He went on to reference the limestone border Melania laid down in the outdoor space, which often hosts speeches and receptions for visiting dignitaries, sports teams and more. Melania’s office fired back at Beschloss on X, sharing a different photo that showed the garden in full bloom. “.@BeschlossDC has proven his ignorance by showing a picture of the Rose Garden in its infancy. The Rose Garden is graced with a healthy [and] colorful blossoming of roses,” her office wrote at the time. “His misleading information is dishonorable and he should never be trusted as a professional historian.”

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