The green lawn at the center of the garden, used for decades for White House events, has been replaced with what appeared to be white stone. Some foliage remained, with rose bushes and hedges bordering the new patio area.
The changes fulfilled Trump’s former vow to pave over the garden. He said the grass got too wet and the terrain made it hard for women to walk in high heels.
This is the second time the Rose Garden has undergone big changes with Trump in office. In 2020, First Lady Melania Trump oversaw her own Rose Garden makeover, which involved adding pathways, planting new rose bushes and tearing out some of the garden’s previous vegetation, including its beloved crab apple trees.
While her updates drew some backlash at the time, the changes weren’t nearly as stark as her husband’s new redesign.
This week, critics blasted the garden’s new look on social media.
That said, some people liked it, with fans noting that it includes drains shaped like American flags.
20 Years OfFreeJournalism
Your Support Fuels Our Mission
Your Support Fuels Our Mission
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
Revamping the garden isn’t the only thing on Trump’s White House renovation docket. He also plans spend $200 million tearing down the East Wing to construct a ballroom.
