Renovations to the Rose Garden Elicit Controversy During Trump’s Second Term
During Donald Trump’s second term as president, renovations to the historic Rose Garden at the White House have ignited considerable public dissent. Initiated on June 9, these modifications have rendered the once-iconic area almost unrecognizable.
Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, cited safety issues as the rationale for the updates. “The terrain can be wet… women, with high heels, it just didn’t work,” Trump remarked, indicating that the area was not conducive for press conferences.
Images circulated online show that the central grass area of the Rose Garden has been replaced with gravel and is now surrounded by construction machinery. Only the original hedges have been preserved.
A White House representative characterized the renovation as a “restoration” aimed at improving both functionality and tradition. Nevertheless, critics on social media perceived it differently, labeling it an unnecessary and harmful modification to a national landmark.
“To remove Kennedy’s Rose Garden is to erase a segment of our White House history,” one user commented on X. Others voiced their incredulity, describing the project as “crazy.”
This is not the first instance of controversy related to changes in the Rose Garden. In 2020, Melania Trump encountered backlash for her redesign and defended her actions by highlighting the necessity for contemporary updates.
Additional modifications to the White House are said to be underway, which include a new ballroom and two sizable flagpoles—one for each lawn. Trump asserted that he is personally financing the improvements, remarking, “They’ve needed flagpoles for 200 years.”
On June 18, Trump was observed near the garden, actively supervising the renovations and conversing with construction workers. Detractors continue to express their concerns, questioning the necessity of the changes and their potential impact on the legacy.
