President Donald Trump has declared that his newly paved Rose Garden is receiving “great reviews,” despite widespread criticism following its unveiling last week. The iconic White House garden, traditionally known for its lush central lawn, has been transformed into a vast white-stone patio resembling the style of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
The presidential seal now appears along the edges of the paving, near the drainage lines. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump praised the project, which began in June and was completed Friday. “We’re getting great reviews on the Rose Garden,” he said, without specifying who had offered the feedback.
The renovation, managed by the National Park Service and funded by the Trust for the National Mall, replaces the 7,500-square-foot grassy expanse with pale stone. According to Trump, the material was chosen both for its appearance and practicality, according to Vogue.
“It’s a beautiful white stone,” Trump said enthusiastically. “It’s a stone that’s the same color as the White House itself. And because it’s very white, it’s going to reflect the heat. It’s not going to be very hot like if you had a dark stone.”
The original Rose Garden layout, designed in 1962 at President John F. Kennedy’s request, featured a large grass panel for ceremonies and press events. Trump, however, argued the lawn caused practical issues, especially for female attendees.
“We’re going to make that into a stone surface,” Trump told The Spectator in February, explaining that women were “going crazy, the grass was wet, their heels are going right through the grass, like four inches deep.”
On Sunday, he reiterated the point: “It’d take three, four, five days for it to dry out, and we couldn’t use it for really the intended purpose. So whether they had events or they had news conferences, we couldn’t use it.”
The Rose Garden has undergone several changes under past presidents. Ronald Reagan replaced certain rose varieties, while the Obamas added a kitchen garden. In 2020, First Lady Melania Trump removed cherry trees and tulips, opting for a subdued palette reflecting horticulturist Rachel “Bunny” Mellon’s original vision.
Trump’s changes to the White House grounds are not stopping with the Rose Garden. Last week, he announced plans to construct a $100 million ballroom inside the executive mansion.
“It’s a very incredible structure, it’s going to be beautiful,” Trump said on Pod Force One. “Normally, I could build a building like that in four or five months. But it’s very intricate inside, it’s beautiful, the best marbles, it’ll be a great tribute to the White House. Other presidents have talked about it, but it never got done. I’m the builder. I know how to do it.”