Melania Trump revealed the controversial new look of the White House’s iconic Rose Garden in 2020 – years before husband Donald made an even more drastic change
Ayaan Ali Reporter and Judy Johnson
04:00 ET, 26 Oct 2025
Melania Trump resdeigned the Rose Garden back in 2020(Image: Getty)
Melania Trump faced backlash after unveiling a controversial redesign of the White House’s iconic Rose Garden – and the transformation didn’t receive universal praise.
The First Lady was met with criticism on social media over the changes to the historic grounds, which she shared with President Donald Trump. The renovation, completed in August 2020, was slammed by detractors as an unnecessary and wasteful use of resources, although it seems moderate now compared to the latest ‘hideous’ changes.
Melania had announced the plans a month earlier, revealing that a significant portion of the existing garden would be removed as part of the overhaul. Although President Trump had frequently used the Rose Garden for press conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the space remained out of sight during the reconstruction. It comes after a former aide revealed the chilling reason Melania will never leave Donald.
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The appearance was unveiled on the FLOTUS account shared images on Twitter and Instagram with the message: “Excited to honor history & celebrate the future in our beautiful @WhiteHouse Rose Garden this evening. Thank you to all who helped renew this iconic & truly gorgeous space.”
The redesigned garden displayed pristine lawns and minimal color – and Americans expressed displeasure.
While Melania Trump’s Rose Garden renovation drew widespread criticism, supporters were quick to defend the change(Image: Getty)
The hashtag #RoseGardenMassacre even gained traction on Twitter as individuals expressed their frustration regarding the redesign, while others participated with #MelaniaRuinsEverything.
Much of the criticism centered on the expense of the new garden – although the exact amount spent remains unclear.
American actress and activist Mia Farrow led the wave of criticism on Twitter, responding to the FLOTUS account: “Sad. It was lovely before. 30 million Americans dont have enough food. And you do this – at our expense.”
Another Twitter user chimed in: “My family is one of those 30 million who struggle to have enough food, we depend on food banks when possible. It hurts to see Trump just waste taxpayers money on things like this!”.
However, some were quick to defend the renovation, asserting that it had been funded by private donations. One individual stated, “I read it was all paid for by private donors.” Another added, “White House officials said the renovations were paid for by private donations. They declined to reveal the cost of the work.
“The flowers in the garden are largely pastels, which are favored by the first lady, including taller white roses.”
Unveiling the revamped Rose Garden, Melania Trump called gardens “symbols of growth and hope”(Image: Getty)
Melania’s Instagram followers were generally more appreciative of the changes, with one remarking: “No First Lady has done more for the Rose garden renovations ever!”. Another shared, “What a beautiful restoration of the Kennedy rose garden. Jackie would be proud.”
Melania remarked that “Gardens are symbols of growth and hope,” while expressing gratitude to those who contributed to the project.
“The Rose Garden layout we have all come to know and treasure was designed during the Kennedy Administration by Bunny Mellon,” Melania stated during her address.
“For 60 years, this space has served as the backdrop for many important events. The garden has also served as a peaceful outdoor escape for many administrations and their guests.”
The former model noted that the renovation enhanced accessibility for individuals with disabilities. The First Lady described it as a “thoughtful and collaborative process” – however, numerous critics condemned Melania and her husband for “destroying” the beautiful garden.
Previously vibrant and colorful, the redesigned space required removing the crab apple trees, which officials claim will be relocated “elsewhere on the grounds”.
One Twitter user condemned the decision, responding to the garden’s unveiling with: “I’m an avid gardener and conservationist. But here’s some non-political feedback. And I’ve never tweeted to the WH, POTUS, or FLOTUS until right now. This is terrible.
“Removing pollinator trees and replacing with so much lawn is so bad ecologically. This makes me sad.” Some have likened the revamped style to a “graveyard”, dubbing it “insipid and drab” when stacked against the vibrant hues of the initial design.
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