From roses to stone and statues: Trump's makeover of White House Rose Garden
President Donald Trump is overseeing a renovation of the White House Rose Garden, replacing some greenery with white stone patios and adding statues of historical figures. The project is part of a broader effort to update the White House grounds and create a National Garden of American Heroes.
Why it matters
The aesthetic and structural changes to the White House reflect the administration's cultural priorities and approach to historical preservation.
US President Donald Trump is reshaping the White House grounds, with its Rose Garden’s lawn having less roses and more white stone patio and statues of prominent American figures, in another sign of his sweeping renovation drive.The latest addition is a bronze statue of former President Thomas Jefferson, donated by Colorado sculptor George Lundeen. It joins statues of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin already displayed in the garden, along with a 14-foot bronze sculpture called “Freedom’s Charge”.The changes have transformed the historic garden into a space resembling the outdoor area at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. At least one of the statues was donated, while others are on loan from anonymous donors.Lundeen said he had sent the Jefferson sculpture to the White House hoping it could be displayed during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
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