It’s often called America’s most famous garden—a space that has stood witness to over a century of presidential history. But under President Donald Trump, the White House Rose Garden is set for a dramatic transformation.

Trump recently revealed plans to replace the garden’s meticulously maintained grass with a hard surface that would resemble the patio of his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

The proposal has already stirred debate among historians and preservationists. While some see it as a practical upgrade, others argue that it disrupts the garden’s longstanding role as a symbol of presidential tradition and continuity.

So, what’s the history behind this iconic Rose Garden? And why does Trump want to change it now? Here’s a closer look into the presidential backyard.

A garden rooted in history

Nestled beside the Oval Office, the White House Rose Garden has long been a stage for diplomacy, history, and presidential traditions.

Its story dates back to 1902 when First Lady Edith Roosevelt, wife of President Theodore Roosevelt, decided to turn what was once a stable yard into something far more refined—a colonial-style garden. She introduced paisley-shaped flower beds filled with countryside blooms like daisies and wild pansies, a unique and charming touch for its time.

The name “Rose Garden” only came later, thanks to Ellen Wilson, the wife of President Woodrow Wilson, in 1913. She worked with landscape architect George Burnap to establish the first formal rose garden, making roses a defining feature of the White House grounds.

The Rose Garden as we know it today took shape in 1962 under the Kennedys. Inspired by the grand gardens of Versailles, President John F Kennedy wanted a space that was both elegant and functional—a place that could hold formal events yet still feel intimate. He turned to Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, a celebrated garden designer, to bring his vision to life.

“Paying little attention to that doubt, [JFK] bubbled with enthusiasm, with fascinating details of how he wanted a garden to appeal to the most discriminating taste, yet a garden that would hold a thousand people for a ceremony. What gardener could resist?” Mellon later wrote for the White House Historical Association.

She teamed up with one of Washington DC’s top landscape architects, Perry Wheeler, and together they created what she described as a “green theatre.” The garden featured a central lawn, framed by four towering magnolia trees and bordered by flower beds filled with seasonal blooms. Crabapple trees, roses, and boxwoods were arranged to create a perfect balance of symmetry and natural beauty.

The result was so well-loved that visiting foreign dignitaries often requested meetings in the Rose Garden instead of the Oval Office. During the tense days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy was known to walk its paths, deep in thought. White House staff even began calling it the “outdoor Oval Office.”

The garden has also hosted some of the White House’s most personal moments. In 1971, President Richard Nixon’s daughter, Tricia Nixon, married Edward Cox in a grand outdoor ceremony—the first and only First Daughter wedding to take place in the Rose Garden. The event was so iconic that it sparked a nationwide trend, with couples requesting “White House-style” weddings across America.

Under President Bill Clinton, the garden played a role in international diplomacy when it became the setting for the historic 1994 peace treaty signing between Israel and Jordan. More recently, it has served as the backdrop for major political events, from Supreme Court nominations to high-profile press conferences.

What does Trump have in mind?

In a recent interview with Fox News journalist Laura Ingraham, President Donald Trump s hared his plans to pave over the Rose Garden, citing issues with the lawn becoming “soaking wet” during events.

As the two walked past the Oval Office and into the Rose Garden, cameras captured workers laying down concrete in certain areas. Noticing the work, Ingraham asked Trump if he was paving over the space and why.

Trump explained that the garden is meant to host events, but wet grass creates problems, especially for women in high heels. “What was happening is, it’s supposed to have events," he said. “Every event you have, it’s soaking wet. It’s soaking wet, and people can’t. And the women with the high heels, it’s just too much.”

While he assured that the “roses would be staying”, he does plan to rip off the grass from the lawn. “The grass just, it doesn’t work. And we have a gorgeous stone and everything else. But, you know, we use it for press conferences, and it doesn’t work because the people fall into the, you know, into the wet stuff,” he said.

Designers have already drafted plans for how the new surface might look. Trump has reportedly discussed different material options, including limestone or an interchangeable hard surface, with the possibility of adding hardwood floors for dancing, sources familiar with the discussions told The New York Times.

Trump has also expressed to his associates that he wants to recreate the patio experience of Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Palm Beach, Florida, making the space more suitable for entertaining guests.

Some historians have raised concerns about the changes. Timothy Naftali, a historian at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, noted that while first families typically make changes to the private living quarters, the public areas of the White House are seen as belonging to the American people. “You have an obligation not to step too far outside of tradition in the public spaces,” Naftali said.

However, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, defended the plan, stating that Trump is focused on restoring the White House to its former glory. “The White House has not been given any tender, loving care in many decades, so President Trump is taking necessary steps in order to preserve and restore the greatness and glory of ‘the People’s House,’” Cheung told NYT.

It remains unclear where former First Lady Melania Trump stands on her husband’s renovation plans. During his first term, she oversaw a controversial redesign of the Rose Garden, which included the installation of a three-foot-wide limestone path, the removal of its signature crab apple trees, and the addition of white rose shrubs, boxwoods, and pastel flowers.

With construction already underway, the final look of Trump’s new Rose Garden is yet to be seen.