President Donald Trump touted fresh renovation plans on Truth Social Saturday days after he owned up to a glaring flaw in the new Rose Garden design.
The post compared the current withered slate floor on the walkway leading to the Oval Office a new, reflective granite path that resembles a mirror. “The old, broken, slate floor on the Walkway going to the Oval Office from the White House. The new granite floor replacing the old slate going to the Oval! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the president wrote.
In recent days, President Trump has laid out multiple renovation projects as construction for his crown jewel, the controversial $1.4 billion ballroom, is paused amid ongoing litigation.
His unilateral overhaul of the historic White House and its surrounding structures has led to mounting criticism, which the president has largely ignored. However, President Trump on Mother’s Day issued a rare acknowledgement of an oversight he made when deciding to pave over the Rose Garden.
“The white reflects the sun, though it does go in my eye, right now, I noticed, I didn’t anticipate that. But it’s a great place,” seeming to downplay his own critique.
The famous White House Rose Garden was paved over by Trump last summer, and a concrete terrace with tables and umbrellas was added. He intended to use the space for media appearances, like the Mother’s Day event about a week ago. Private financing sources are thought to have contributed about $2 million to the upgrades.
On important occasions, the president frequently veers into conversations about his renovations. He has made several references to his ballroom project in recent weeks, which is likewise intended to be funded by private donations.
Concerns that taxpayers would be “on the hook” for the Republican-backed $1 billion Homeland Security spending plan were dismissed by Trump on Thursday.
“Well, they’re not,” Trump said, regarding taxpayer dollars being allocated to the ballroom venture. “That’s for many other projects having to do with safety in a certain section of the White House grounds. That’s not all for the ballroom.
“We’re putting up $400 million to do the ballroom section of the ballroom. We are putting that up privately. I am doing it along with other patriots that love our country,” he continued. “But they want to do certain things militarily with respect to the ballroom. Having nothing to do with us. Or having to do with the safety of the president. So having to do with a lot of things.”
He added, “But they want to do certain things militarily with respect to the ballroom. Having nothing to do with us. Or having to do with the safety of the president. So having to do with a lot of things.”
