UPDATE (8:45 pm ET): The republican National Committee will pay for new sod for the Rose Garden after it was damaged in preparation for Melania Trump’s speech, the Washington Post reports. President Trump has not said if he will push to have someone jailed for ten years for intentionally damaging federal property.
_________________________________
The White House Rose Garden, which underwent three weeks of renovations and was debuted just in time for Third Lady Melania Trump’s speech at the republican National Convention to be hosted there, has been closed for repairs, CNN reports.
The renovation of the 7,500 square foot garden has caused the space to become swamped during heavy rains. The project was undertaken over three weeks, with the result largely panned by design critics, many of whom noted the absence of any depth or trees.
The Rose Garden, established by the Woodrow Wilson’s wife, Ellen, was made famous during the tenure of Jackie Kennedy as First Lady. Kennedy redesigned the Rose Garden with the help of Rachel Lambert Mellon.
After debuting her redesign on August 22nd, White House staff had to lay down artificial turf for the Third Lady’s speech on the 25th so guests would not walk over a swampy lawn.