The history behind Trump's newly paved Rose Garden
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The newly repaved Rose Garden of the White House. Photo: Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Trump's Rose Garden revamp is complete — and it is, per POTUS, "very white."
Why it matters: Garden-lovers are thorny about the paving-over, though the White House Historical Association tells Axios that controversial remodels are all part of presidential tradition.
❌ Out: The grassy Kennedy-era lawn.
✅ In: A marble Mar-a-lago-esque patio.
Zoom in: POTUS rationalized the greenery-to-granite swap as practical, saying well-heeled women were "going crazy" sinking into the lawn on wet days.
- Neither garden beds nor hundreds of roses were impacted by the project.
- It's funded by the Trust for the National Mall and private donors, according to trust spokespersons, and is designed to make the garden more event-friendly.
The big picture: The Decorator-in-Chief is making his mark on the People's House — including a newly announced $200 million ballroom.
- He's not the first president to do so — or face backlash for his design choices. Horticulturists attacked Theodore Roosevelt for clearing plant-growing houses to create the West Wing, according to the White House Historical Association — a bipartisan entity established by Jackie Kennedy.
Meanwhile, former President Truman's pricey, now-iconic balcony was criticized as frivolous in a post-war economy.
- It's also not the first Trump-era Rose Garden pruning. First lady Melania Trump unveiled a muted version — sans crabapple trees — in their first term.
What they're saying: "The South Portico, the North Portico, the East Wing, the West Wing, and the Truman Balcony all raised concerns at the time — but today, we can't imagine the White House without these iconic elements," says association president Stewart D. McLaurin in a statement to Axios.
Flashback: The Rose Garden's grassy space has hosted many high-profile moments since its 1963 unveiling. Think Tricia Nixon's wedding, Brazilian soccer legend Pelé juggling balls, and countless turkey pardons.
Between the beds: The Kennedys commissioned philanthropist and garden queen Rachel "Bunny" Mellon to fashion their Rose Garden.
- Her stamp may have diminished, but fans of her aesthetic can visit Mellon's gorgeous Oak Springs estate in Upperville, VA — open to the public for rare tours and events.
What's next: You may be able to catch a glimpse at the next White House Garden Tour this fall.