Trump Begins Overhaul of Iconic White House Rose Garden

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction has started on a significant renovation of the White House Rose Garden, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of plans to transform the historic lawn. Employees from the National Park Service began working on the project on Monday, with plans to complete the work by early August.

During a site visit, Trump told reporters he was installing two new flagpoles, stating that the grounds have “needed flagpoles for 200 years.” He highlighted that the American flag and POW/MIA flag already fly daily from the roof of the White House.

Earlier this year, Trump expressed a desire to remove the lawn, often the site of significant presidential events, citing that women struggle to walk on wet grass in high heels, saying, “The grass just, it doesn’t work.” This area has previously hosted major bill-signing ceremonies and press conferences.

The Rose Garden was established over a century ago by former First Lady Edith Roosevelt and later redesigned by Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s. Trump aims to create a more usable space, inspired by the aesthetics of Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida.

Critics have condemned the renovation as a misguided attempt to mimic a resort atmosphere within a historic site. The Rose Garden’s intended transformation seems to be an extension of renovations initiated by First Lady Melania Trump in 2020.

Additionally, last month, a large magnolia tree, planted to commemorate John F. Kennedy Jr., was removed and replaced with a smaller specimen. Opinion surrounding these changes remains deeply divided, with many seeing it as an affront to the garden’s historical significance.

The alteration of the Rose Garden represents a continued effort to reshape the iconic White House landscape under the current administration.