As her husband continues to shout about the keeping Confederate monuments and glorifying white supremacy, Melania Trump announced today that she’s ordered the White House Rose Garden to be ripped up and completely redone to reflect its original pre-Civil Rights Act design.
Mrs. Trump says she hopes to bring the iconic green space, which sits adjacent to the Oval Office and West Wing, back to its original 1962 splendor, which was designed by famed horticulturist and philanthropist Rachel “Bunny” Mellon.
“Preserving the history and beauty of the White House and its grounds is a testament to our nation’s commitment to the care of this landscape and our dedication to American ideals, safeguarding them for our children and their children for generations to come,” FLOTUS said in a thinly-veiled statement.
Even in the most difficult times, the @WhiteHouse Rose Garden has stood as a symbol of strength & continuity. Today, it is my pleasure to announce our plans to renew & restore this iconic space so that we preserve its history & beauty for generations to come.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) July 27, 2020
The renovation, which will include an excavation, is expected to take several weeks, during which the garden will be out of commission for Trump’s daily MAGA rallies coronavirus briefings.
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CNN reports, “The outdoor venue provides more safety from potential spread of the virus for journalists and guests, as medical experts maintain being outside is more optimal than gathering indoors.”
The Rose Garden is just the latest in many White House renovations ordered by Melania, who has also redone the White House bowling alley, Red Room, Blue Room, Green Room, Diplomatic Reception Room, and, of course, the tennis pavilion.
Here’s how Twitter has been responding to the news…
Is this really the best use of your time and our money?
— Dr Strange PhD🔬😺🐾🌊 (@CeeEyes) July 27, 2020
How nice of you to renovate the garden for the Bidens!
— Devin Duke (@sirDukeDevin) July 27, 2020
You finished the tennis house?
— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) July 27, 2020
Maybe you should plant 150,000 roses to represent the Americans your husband has killed.
— Liddle’ Savage (@littledeekay) July 27, 2020
Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
In new Rose Garden,
They’re plastic, too!— Melania, the Vairst Letty pic.twitter.com/WhgFFMuPhb
— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) July 27, 2020
We are in the middle of a national crisis and this is what you chose to do?
— Emily Hanz (@Emily_Hank_Vlog) July 27, 2020
What happened with the tennis pavilion? Started it, spent the cash, fired everyone, and left it incomplete per Donald’s tradition?
— ALT-immigration 🛂 (@ALT_uscis) July 27, 2020
You won’t be there in the spring.
Maybe work on designing some luggage.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) July 27, 2020
Will anyone be able to see it? pic.twitter.com/Mpf0p2wbTk
— Graham Webb (@DrGW0) July 27, 2020
Sure, Birther
— Baligubadle (@Baligubadle1) July 27, 2020
TedV
Is it wrong that I want to caption that first picture “a ho with a hoe?”
Vince
In 5″ stiletto heels no less.
Cam
The hoe at least has a purpose.
jayceecook
You have no idea of how happy it is to see somebody who knows the difference between “ho” and “hoe”. Seriously. Bless you.
rbernard
you are correct, please move to the head of the line.
Cam
Funny how she didn’t care about preserving the original look of the White House when she installed a new tennis pavilion.
Ohhhhh, I get it, Trump’s staff is putting this out as a thinly veiled jab at the “Historic” arguments they’re using to defend racist Confederate statues.
Rock Star
Is she using Michelle’s shovel? I hear she worked on it by herself.
Kangol2
Melania Antoinette!
jayceecook
This is actually a great article wherein the lady applauds the idea, offers her professional advice, yet shades the hell out Trump at the same time. That’s talent.
https ://www.cnn.com/2020/07/27/opinions/melania-trumps-great-idea-slatalla/index.html
Matthewnow
She’s actually looking for Moose and Squirrel.
cs1900
It beggars belief that somebody (probably with as little taste as Melania herself) actually approved this wildly implausible picture. What’s the over/under on the likelihood that that was the first time she’s ever held a shovel?
Evji108
Well she’s optimistic that she’ll see the fruit of her labors blooming in June 2021 isn’t she?!
Karrnal
It’s popular to disparage Melania. I’m not one of her supporters. But Queerty is misrepresenting her plans for the Rose Garden, and people posting comments against her after reading Queerty’s reportage aren’t aware of the facts. Her plans are positive and will be beneficial for the garden. Read the New York Times and get a less biased report on her plans.
Roan
No thanks. The FLOOZIE can keep her grubby mitts off of it no matter what her plans are.
jayceecook
Yes, many experts have said it could use a renovation. I even linked to an article by one wherein the lady gives her advice to MT as to how best to go about it since the last time it was done it caused a ton of problems.
There are 2 main things that are problematic. The first being we don’t know the specifics of her plan. It’s not going to be an easy job as they found out the hard way in the 60s. Depending on who they hire to oversee the project it could be a massive fail for generations to come. The second being that we are in crisis mode in the country due to COVID-19 and the ongoing issues with how Trump is handling the reactions to years of police brutality against black people, especially black men.
Many, many people are out of work and loosing a chunk of their unemployment as Congress has let the benefits expire. Teachers, parents, and even children are terrified to go back to school. Teachers are drafting their wills literally preparing to die because some Trump experts want schools reopened pre-COVID-19 style. Cases are rising again and could get worse because a large portion of this country feels wearing a mask and social distancing is somehow anti-freedom. Yet during the Spanish Flu Americans were quick to adopt such a thing. Close to 150,000 Americans have died because of this pandemic. So should MT and the government be spending the money to renovate the rose garden during such a difficult time in our country? Aren’t there more pressing matters at hand? Not to mention the money she took to build the tennis pavilion that still hasn’t happened. It’s tacky and in poor judgement at best and downright tone deaf and a waste of funds at worst.
Renovation of the rose garden being a good idea and doing so right now not being the appropriate time are not mutually exclusive.
decampbell
Queerty HAS misrepresented what is going on. I’m NO fan of #MailOrderMelania by any stretch. Fortunately, the real design and decision making are not really hers. Even vehemently anti-Trump outlets haven’t got much negative to say – aside from the timing of the renovation. See The NY Times article I post in Comments.
Kevan1
The Rose Garden is a part of our history. She should leave it alone. She should be stoped. What gives her the right to destroy the Rose Garden.
decampbell
I don’t think you’ve read anything about what is planned. I am NO FAN of any of the Trumps but this is not a derelict act. See the NY Times article I posted in comments.
The big sky
Lets hope she’s digging Don the Con’s grave.
DavidRoddis
I keep looking for the selection edges in that pic – she was Photoshopped in, right? Yes, no? There’s usually a little bit of “fringing.” Why do her heels not sink into the mud? Right? This even beats those fake moon landing snaps!
I don’t mind being the odd guy out, but — I don’t automatically hate Melania. She signed on for a worthless life of unremitting affluence with a rich old toad, and suddenly she’s FLOTUS. All eyes are upon her, which her previous occupation of model/ soft-core porn actor could simply not have prepared her for.
I find her subtly subversive—she’s often refused to toe the line with the official messaging and gone her own way, once she got her bearings. She keeps her mouth shut, mostly, and she has a certain dignity and class, two traits in short supply in the White House. I don’t think of her in the same category as Donald, not by a long shot. There’s definitely more to her than meets the eye.
When it’s a case of a woman married to a despicable misogynist bully, with the world breathing down her neck, I beg off judging her. Let her renew the Rose Garden in peace. She probably needs a little bit of that beauty that money can’t buy.
assyrianhunk
I hope she is digging Donald’s grave. She certainly loathes him enough.
dre23222
This was nothing but a photo op. Who in their right mind would do this in pumps?? Girl bye.