White House Rose Garden Patio Now Features Umbrellas from Mar-a-Lago, and Trump’s Press Secretary Shares Melania’s Thoughts

The White House Rose Garden is nearly ready to welcome visitors again after a summer of renovations, and press secretary Karoline Leavitt gave reporters a first look at the updated patio ahead of the official reopening.

On Tuesday, Aug. 19, Leavitt led the White House press pool through the Rose Garden while President Donald Trump played his own music selection over the loudspeakers — a signature move he’s known for at Mar-a-Lago events.

While classics like “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum and Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” filled the air, Leavitt answered questions about the most notable changes to the Rose Garden since the Kennedy administration — including why it resembles the president’s West Palm Beach club and whether First Lady Melania Trump approves of the redesign.

One of the first questions centered on the patio’s yellow-and-white-striped umbrellas, which have gone viral online for looking strikingly similar to those at Mar-a-Lago.

“What was the thinking behind the choice of the yellow umbrellas? A lot of people say they look similar to that of Mar-a-Lago,” a reporter asked.

Leavitt, 27, replied, “Yeah, I mean, they are literally the umbrellas from Mar-a-Lago,” clarifying that they were purchased from the same vendor rather than brought from the Florida property.

When asked if Melania — who oversaw a redesign of the rose bushes in 2020 — is “cool with the overall patio,” Leavitt said, “She is. I believe so, yeah.” She added that the president “loves it, clearly,” apparently referencing the music playing in the background, which he reportedly used to test the new sound system ahead of “the best event in White House history.”

Leavitt also confirmed that the space retains its official name: the White House Rose Garden.

The Rose Garden has seen several updates since its creation in the early 20th century, though few changes occurred after John F. Kennedy’s major redesign in the 1960s. His renovation moved flowers to the outer edges and added a central lawn designed to host high-profile events.

Melania faced some criticism during the end of her husband’s first term for removing the Kennedys’ crabapple trees and narrowing the lawn to add a limestone walkway. She also increased the number of rose bushes, which remain today.

Earlier this summer, the Trumps announced a major project to replace Kennedy’s central lawn with cement pavers, turning the green space into a patio. Construction has now finished, and the White House is expected to hold a reopening ceremony soon.