The White House has completed plans to pave over the Rose Garden lawn with a new patio.
The garden, which has long been a backdrop for important presidential announcements, has been remodeled, after the White House said that it had “not been given any tender, loving care in many decades.”
Newsweek contacted the White House for more information on the Rose Garden via email.
Why It Matters
The Rose Garden is one of the most instantly recognizable features of the White House, perhaps second only to the Oval Office. It has been used for announcements, events, and receptions of international leaders since the 1900s, and many of the defining moments in presidential history have taken place there.
The White House Rose Garden being paved over on July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC.
The White House Rose Garden being paved over on July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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When Donald Trump won the 2016 election, the Rose Garden was where then-President Barack Obama acknowledged his victory, and when Trump himself announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs, he did so in the same place.
What To Know
The renovations, finished on August 1, involved replacing the lawn of the Rose Garden entirely with a concrete patio of diamond-shaped plates, which match the color of the White House.
The changes were funded by the Trust for the National Mall along with private donors, according to reports from Axios. The rose bushes that give the garden its name were not damaged or moved during the process.
The Rose Garden was created in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson. It was redesigned in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to serve as a space for outdoor ceremonies. It has since become a regular venue for various events, including receptions, press briefings, and other occasions.
First lady Melania Trump redesigned the garden in 2019, during her husband’s first term. The renovations drew backlash at the time and led to a petition asking for the changes to be reversed.
View of the newly paved Rose Garden is seen at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2025.
View of the newly paved Rose Garden is seen at the White House in Washington, DC, on August 1, 2025.
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Since returning to the White House, Trump has made some significant changes, including a transformation of the Oval Office. He has added gold medallions, gold vermeil figurines, gold eagles, and gilded Rococo mirrors.
What People Are Saying
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, in a statement shared by The New York Times in March: “The White House has not been given any tender, loving care in many decades, so President Trump is taking necessary steps in order to preserve and restore the greatness and glory of ‘the People’s House.'”
Chris D. Jackson, a political strategist who worked on the Biden campaign, said on social media: “This is awful. The Rose Garden and Colonnade used to be my favorite parts of the White House—now they look like everything else he touches: stripped down, soulless, and ruined.
“Here’s hoping the next First Family doesn’t just reverse policy but rips out every bit of this tasteless mess.”
The campaign group Republicans against Trump said: “My God. This is the White House Rose Garden after Trump’s ‘overhaul.’ Stripped, paved, lifeless. Everything Trump touches dies.”
What Happens Next
The White House will continue to use the Rose Garden for important press events and receptions.
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