First woman Melania Trump
Melania TrumpTrump tweets a photo of himself wearing a Graham mask about Lewis’s passing: “He lived a consistent life” First Lady urges Americans to wear masks, social distance MORE On Monday, he announced plans to renovate the White House Rose Garden, the historic outdoor space next to the Oval Office and the West Wing.
The plans call for renovating the space to more closely resemble the original 1962 design implemented by Rachel Lambert Mellon during the Kennedy administration.
The iconic garden will be updated with improved drainage, new flowers and plants, better accessibility for people with disabilities, and new support for television appearances.
“The very act of planting a garden involves a lot of work and hope for a bright future,” the first lady said in a statement Monday. “Preserving the history and beauty of the White House and its grounds is a testament to our nation’s commitment to caring for this landscape and our dedication to American ideals, protecting them for our children and their children for future generations.”
The renovation plans were approved by the White House Preservation Committee. The project has the support of the National Park Service and will be financed with private donations, according to the White House.
The Rose Garden is a space traditionally used by presidents to house foreign leaders, deliver annual Thanksgiving turkey pardons, and deliver key presidential speeches.
Trump has often used the Rose Garden for official speeches, including a recent campaign speech that drew criticism for including a myriad attacks on the alleged Democratic presidential candidate. Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden to pay tribute to Lewis on Capitol Hill on Monday Trump lashes out at the Reagan Foundation after fundraising request Trump’s approval of coronavirus management reaches a new low level MORE. Past presidents have generally tried to deliver campaign messages outside the White House.
The Rose Garden renovation will take place this summer, meaning the venue is unlikely to be available for presidential events for at least a few weeks.
.
