Amid renovations on the White House grounds during Donald Trump’s second presidency, the iconic Rose Garden — regarded by many as sacred — has become nearly unrecognizable.
Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump initiated the changes on June 9. The former president explained, “You know, we use [the Rose Garden] for press conferences, and it doesn’t work because the people fall.”
He continued, “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.”
Recent photos shared online reveal that the grass center square of the Rose Garden has been completely removed, replaced by layers of gravel and surrounded by construction equipment. The only remaining greenery appears to be the original hedges lining the borders.
A White House official described the ongoing work as a “restoration” intended to improve functionality while respecting tradition.
However, many members of the public see it differently, expressing their frustration on social media.
“To remove Kennedy’s Rose Garden is removing a piece of our White House history. And for a patio,” one user posted on X.
“White House Rose Garden gone. Absolutely crazy,” another added.
This isn’t the first time the Rose Garden has sparked controversy. Back in 2020, during Trump’s first term, Melania Trump oversaw modifications to the space, and later felt compelled to defend those changes publicly.
“The Rose Garden is graced with a healthy & colorful blossoming of roses,” her statement read. “Decades of use and necessary changes made to support the modern presidency have taken a toll on the garden and have made it more difficult to appreciate the elegant symmetry of the Mellon plan.”
New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow was among the critics, calling Melania’s redesign “grim.”
According to the Associated Press, additional White House changes are also planned, including a new ballroom and two enormous flagpoles, one for the North Lawn and one for the South Lawn.
Trump noted that he was personally covering the cost of these renovations, telling reporters in April, “They’ve needed flagpoles for 200 years.”
On June 18, Trump was seen near the Rose Garden, supervising the work and chatting with construction crews.
