Bulldozers have begun tearing up the White House Rose Garden lawn as part of the latest renovation project of President Donald Trump. The initiative includes installing two new flagpoles and building a Mar-a-Lago-style patio, with construction officially underway by the National Park Service as of Monday. The project is expected to finish by mid-August, according to the Associated Press.
Trump Adds Flagpoles to Historic Grounds
Trump told reporters that the flagpoles, which he described as “beautiful” and “paid for by Trump,” were long overdue. “The grounds have needed flagpoles for 200 years,” he said. While the White House currently flies both the American flag and the POW/MIA flag from its roof, Trump believes additional poles will enhance the space.
Trump Orders Lawn Removal Due to Practical Concerns
The Rose Garden lawn, a backdrop for many press briefings and ceremonies, will be replaced due to concerns Trump outlined earlier this year. In a Fox News interview in March, he criticized the lawn’s usability during wet conditions.
“The grass just, it doesn’t work,” he said. “We use it for press conferences, and it doesn’t work because the people fall into the wet grass.”
Plans also include the construction of a $100 million ballroom inspired by Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. This follows previous modifications, including the recent removal of a magnolia tree planted in memory of John F. Kennedy Jr. outside the Oval Office. The tree has been replaced with a smaller specimen.
Criticism and Historical Context
Both the Rose Garden and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden were first established in 1903 and redesigned in the 1960s. Designer Rachel Lambert Mellon crafted the layout under President John F. Kennedy’s guidance to make the garden suitable for official ceremonies.
In 2020, then-First Lady Melania Trump’s redesign of these gardens drew sharp criticism, with many calling for a restoration of their original look.