Overview

• The National Park Service oversaw the June–July 2025 project, funded by the Trust for the National Mall, removing the central lawn and installing concrete pavers modeled on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago patio.
• President Trump defended the makeover by saying the hard surface solves issues with soggy ground and high-heeled guests during press conferences and other events.
• In June, the White House added two new flagpoles and announced plans for a $200 million ballroom to be built adjacent to the residence with private donations.
• Social media critics have labeled the paved design “sterile” and “appalling,” arguing it undermines the garden’s traditional aesthetic and historical significance.
• The patio conversion constitutes the most dramatic structural change to the Rose Garden since Jacqueline Kennedy and Rachel Mellon’s 1961 redesign.