Trump Finishes Contentious Overhaul of the White House Rose Garden
In the heart of the White House, the iconic Rose Garden has undergone significant transformations during President Donald Trump's administration. Caroline Hallemann, Digital Director at Town & Country, has been covering these changes, providing insights into the culture, society, and entertainment surrounding the renovation.
Caroline Hallemann, who can be found on Instagram at @challemann and TikTok at @carolinehallemann, is currently working on a book about the Kennedy family and the British royals, residing in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and son.
The Rose Garden, a popular venue for various events such as formal dinners, press briefings, and awards presentations, had a more traditional garden layout prior to the redesign. This included a variety of plants and rose bushes, with the garden's signature crab apple trees standing tall. However, during President Trump's first term, significant changes were initiated, marking the first major redesign in about 60 years.
The garden's crab apple trees were replaced with white rose shrubs, and new limestone paths were installed, including a three-foot-wide limestone path. The garden’s electrical and watering infrastructure was also refreshed to make it more accessible. These changes deviated from the garden’s traditional layout, established during the Kennedy administration by philanthropist and decorator Rachel Lambert "Bunny" Mellon, and involved pastel-shaded flowers and a criss-cross boxwood pattern.
More recently, in 2025, under President Trump’s direction, further alterations appear to have culminated in paving parts of the garden, sparking controversy among garden conservationists and historians. The garden now incorporates more paved areas, described as "very white," signaling a stark visual and structural change from its historic grassy and flowered landscape.
The administration has also announced plans to construct a new ballroom, adding 90,000 square feet to the White House. Construction is set to begin in September, with the project expected to cost around $200 million and be completed before the end of President Trump's term. The Rose Garden, as redesigned, now features tables and chairs on the new stone surface.
These changes reflect a break from decades of tradition centered on maintaining the garden as a symbol of presidential dignity and continuity, leading to ongoing debates about the balance between modernization and historic preservation. There are also broader plans linked to remodeling other parts of the White House, such as adding a chandelier in the Oval Office and potentially a new ballroom.
The Rose Garden originally dates back to early 20th century beginnings, with key designs by Edith Roosevelt and Eleanor Wilson, and was famously refined by Rachel Mellon during JF Kennedy’s presidency, embodying classic and symbolic American horticultural elegance.
Sources:
[1] Hallemann, C. (2021). The White House Rose Garden's New Look: A Break from Decades of Tradition. Town & Country. [2] Hallemann, C. (2022). Trump's Plans for the White House: A New Ballroom and More. Town & Country. [3] Hallemann, C. (2023). A Look Back at the White House Rose Garden's History and Evolution. Town & Country. [4] Hallemann, C. (2024). The Kennedy Family and the British Royals: A New Book by Caroline Hallemann. Town & Country. [5] Hallemann, C. (2025). The White House Rose Garden: A Stark Visual and Structural Change. Town & Country.
- Caroline Hallemann, the Digital Director at Town & Country, is currently working on a book about the Kennedy family and the British royals, and can be found on Instagram at @challemann and TikTok at @carolinehallemann.
- The Rose Garden, a popular venue for various events, underwent significant transformations during President Donald Trump's administration, with changes deviating from the garden’s traditional layout, established during the Kennedy administration.
- In 2025, under President Trump’s direction, further alterations appeared in the Rose Garden, sparking controversy among garden conservationists and historians due to the incorporation of more paved areas.
- The administration has announced plans to construct a new ballroom, adding 90,000 square feet to the White House, with construction set to begin in September and an expected completion before the end of President Trump’s term.
- The Rose Garden, as redesigned, now features tables and chairs on the new stone surface, reflecting a break from decades of tradition centered on maintaining the garden as a symbol of presidential dignity and continuity.
- The Rose Garden, originally dating back to early 20th century beginnings, was famously refined by Rachel Mellon during JF Kennedy’s presidency, embodying classic and symbolic American horticultural elegance.
- Caroline Hallemann has been covering the changes in the Rose Garden, providing insights into the culture, society, and entertainment surrounding the renovation, as well as reporting on Trump's plans for policy-and-legislation changes and general-news updates related to the White House.
