The White House’s iconic Rose Garden is looking a little less rosy these days.
As part of various renovation initiatives at the White House led by President Donald Trump, the center section of the Rose Garden, which has traditionally been covered with grass, has been replaced by stone tiles.
But why break with tradition? The president claims that the grass makes it difficult for women to wear high heels.
You know, we use [the Rose Garden] for press conferences, and …. every event you have, it’s soaking wet, and the women with the high heels, it’s just too much,” Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham during a White House tour in March. So what will replace the grass? “Gorgeous stone,” he added.
During the interview, the president reassured Ingraham that “the roses stay.”
The renovation was completed and unveiled on Friday, August 1, with oversight from the National Park Service.
See pictures of the change here.
A concrete Rose Garden
A view of the Rose Garden under construction at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. July 29, 2025.
A view of the Rose Garden under construction at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. August 1, 2025.
USA TODAY’s Savannah Kuchar contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: See photos of the White House Rose Garden after Trump renovations