NBC News reports:
The White House Rose Garden has been spruced up in time for its moment in the campaign spotlight. First lady Melania Trump will deliver her Republican National Convention speech Tuesday night from the garden, famous for its close proximity to the Oval Office.
The three weeks of work on the garden, which was done in the spirit of its original 1962 design, were showcased to reporters on Saturday. White House officials said the renovations were paid for by private donations. They declined to reveal the cost of the work.
The location of the first lady’s speech will be just one of the ways that the Republican National Convention will break with political norms. Federal rules prohibit the White House from being the setting for expressly political events.
Excited to honor history & celebrate the future in our beautiful @WhiteHouse Rose Garden this evening. Thank you to all who helped renew this iconic & truly gorgeous space. pic.twitter.com/ggiqLkdGbw
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 22, 2020
This is pic today of redo of Rose Garden. My question, who is paying for political use of WH seen in red circle? (Photo @dougmillsnyt ) pic.twitter.com/ouseZ7JTn8
— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) August 22, 2020
I still find it unbelievable that @FLOTUS who has only been a citizen since the middle of GW Bush’s second term had the audacity to wreck the Rose Garden, to pull up history dating back a lifetime. These trashy, evil, stupid people need to get out of our house. What GALL she has.
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) August 22, 2020
Here is the colorful, happy Rose Garden under Obama, and here is Melania’s unveiling of the new garden, entirely devoid of color or joy. pic.twitter.com/j9cNXC63tC
— Jennifer Wright (@JenAshleyWright) August 22, 2020
Can we talk about how Jackie Kennedy’s Rose Garden was colorful and diverse and beautiful and Melania just made it… white? pic.twitter.com/6jIendxup9
— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) August 22, 2020
Don’t let Melanie’s destruction of the Rose Garden distract you from the destruction of the US postal service. #SaveThePostOffice
— Chip Franklin (@chipfranklin) August 22, 2020
Wow. Looks so different. I once played catch with Obama in the Rose Garden … when its had roses. https://t.co/ZTz7Lgt6Pv pic.twitter.com/zcy3rRvm6L
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) August 22, 2020
Turns out those beautiful trees removed from the White House Rose Garden turn out to be crabapples planted by Jackie Kennedy.
— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) August 22, 2020