Donald Trump Tells Top Allies He’ll Be with Them ‘for the Rest of My Life’ at First Rose Garden Patio Event

President Donald Trump has promised to stand by his closest allies for the rest of his life.

On Friday, Sept. 5, the president, 79, hosted Vice President JD Vance along with several senators and representatives for dinner in the newly renovated White House Rose Garden. While speaking to the group, Trump pledged lifelong loyalty — remarks that came after widespread speculation about his health and false rumors of his death over Labor Day weekend.

“You’ve been unbelievable. I’ll be with you for the rest of my life,” Trump told his allies as they gathered on the new patio, part of his summer renovations to the Kennedy-era lawn.

He continued, “I will be with you, and you’re going to be with me and with leadership.” Trump also praised the patio itself, calling it “this little beautiful grouping of some of the finest stone in the world.” He said the area would become an important setting for “news conferences, celebrations, dinners, and bringing people together.”

As for why he chose this group, Trump explained: “Because you are the ones that I never had to call at 4 o’clock in the morning. You are the ones that have been my friends.”

Trump also addressed the health rumors, speaking directly to Congressman Ronny Jackson, a former presidential physician. He claimed Jackson once declared him “the healthiest” compared to former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush — even though Jackson was not Obama’s doctor.

Trump referenced the recent speculation, saying, “We’ll say goodbye to the press, but it’s an honor to have you. And actually, the press has been very good lately, except for one rumor that they spread.”

He described how missing one press conference fueled the rumor: “I did about eight press conferences… day after day after day. Then, I missed one because I was in the Oval Office, and I also went out to the club because I had meetings. They saw that I was, and the rumor started — this horrible rumor — that Trump is no longer with us. I got to the club: ‘Sir, are you okay? Are you okay?’”

“The fake news was at it again,” he added. Trump had previously blamed the conspiracy theory on the media at a Sept. 2 press conference, though no major outlets treated it as fact.

The president also spoke about the Rose Garden renovations. “We have worked very hard to bring it to fruition and not an easy situation, but it’s something that I think we’re all going to enjoy for many, many years to come. It’s a tremendous place.”

He emphasized that the roses themselves were untouched. The lawn, however, was replaced: “Every time we’d have a press conference, women in particular were sinking deep into the mud and at some point I said, ‘You know, it’s time to make the change.’”

The renovations began in early June. A White House official told PEOPLE at the time that both President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump “have deep respect for the history of the White House and for the Rose Garden.” The official described the work as a “restoration” that builds on Melania’s 2020 redesign, with a focus on “enhancing practical use and guest experience for those attending special events.”

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