Melania Trump Defends Rose Garden Renovation Amid Ongoing Criticism

The White House Rose Garden, originally designed in 1962 for President John F. Kennedy by philanthropist and landscape designer Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, became a point of controversy in 2020 when former First Lady Melania Trump undertook an extensive renovation. Now, Melania is using the Rose Garden makeover to promote her new book, Melania, boasting about her role in its redesign.

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Melania shared a clip from the renovation, stating she felt a “deep responsibility to safeguard a piece of history.” She explained, “When the committee for the preservation of the White House asked me to renovate the Rose Garden, I felt a deep responsibility to respect tradition and to preserve its grandeur for future generations. In my book, I share the story of this journey, how my team and I worked to safeguard this piece of our history.”

However, the renovation has faced significant backlash since its completion. Historian and author Michael Beschloss condemned the changes, tweeting in 2020, “Evisceration of White House Rose Garden was completed a year ago this month, and here was the grim result—decades of American history made to disappear.” Many critics echoed similar sentiments, upset by the removal of vibrant roses, blossoming trees, and tulips that had long adorned the garden, serving as a backdrop for presidential press conferences and formal events.

According to Raw Story, Melania replaced the iconic side rose beds with box hedges trimmed in a zigzag pattern, adding white flowers between them. The redesign was a stark departure from Mellon’s original vision, which framed the lawn with vibrant flowers, trees, and perennials.

Mellon’s Rose Garden, initially proposed to President Kennedy on January 24, 1962, featured a carefully planned arrangement of crab apple trees, magnolias, and boxwood roses. Kennedy accepted the plan but requested a slight modification—he asked for taller steps leading from the White House to improve sight lines during speeches. The National Park Service funded the project, which cost $23,458 and was completed in four months.

According to Vanity Fair, After its unveiling in April 1962, the Rose Garden became a beloved space for formal events. Jackie Kennedy was especially fond of it, noting that her husband spent some of his fondest moments there. She once wrote, “He will always be remembered,” for helping create such a beautiful place. Despite Melania Trump’s defense of the renovation, many continue to mourn the loss of Mellon’s original design and its rich history.