Construction Wraps as Trump Jokes He’s Looking for ‘More Ways to Spend My Money’

The newly renovated White House Rose Garden appears ready to be used as a patio space after undergoing summer renovations that replaced the Kennedy-era lawn — but that’s just one of several significant changes coming to the People’s House.

In June, Donald and Melania Trump approved a project to replace the garden’s central lawn with white stone pavers, reflecting more of a Mar-a-Lago vibe.

Photos dated August 1 show the Rose Garden patio fully completed, freshly furnished with several white tables and chairs.

The new White House Rose Garden is expected to open by mid-August, though recent updates suggest it could be ready even sooner. PEOPLE has reached out to the White House for any timeline updates.

In a March interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, President Trump explained why they decided to remove the lawn in favor of a patio-like setting.

“You know, we use [the Rose Garden] for press conferences, and it doesn’t work because the people fall,” he said. “The terrain can be wet, and the soft ground can be an issue for some… Women, with the high heels, it just didn’t work.”

The central lawn was a signature feature of President John F. Kennedy’s iconic Rose Garden redesign in the early 1960s. His design moved flowers, shrubs, and trees to the edges, creating a spacious area suited for high-profile events.

In 2020, first lady Melania Trump introduced the most significant changes to the Rose Garden since Kennedy’s time, making headlines by altering flower beds, removing the Kennedys’ crabapple trees, and narrowing the lawn to add a limestone walkway around the perimeter.

When renovations began in early June, a White House official described the work as a “restoration,” noting that Donald and Melania “have deep respect for the history of the White House and for the Rose Garden.”

“This restoration to the Rose Garden preserves the beauty of the space and builds on the work done in 2020,” the official said, “with a focus on enhancing practical use and guest experience for those attending special events.”

On August 5, President Trump spent about 20 minutes on the West Wing roof, overlooking the new Rose Garden and the planned site for a privately funded White House Ballroom, which is set to break ground in September.

When asked by reporters what he was doing on the roof, the president called it “Taking a little walk,” and joked he was searching for “more ways to spend my money for the country,” according to White House pool reports.

When pressed about further renovations beyond the Rose Garden and ballroom, he gestured broadly and said, “Something beautiful.”

Whether or not there are more projects in the pipeline, the Trumps’ 2025 updates already represent the most significant changes to the White House in recent history.

While President Trump’s white-and-gold makeover of the Oval Office and rearrangement of White House art may be reversed by future administrations, the plan for a new White House Ballroom promises a permanent transformation of the presidential complex.

This 90,000-square-foot event space, designed to dramatically extend the East Wing, will be larger than the main White House itself. With an estimated cost of $200 million, funded by the Trumps and private donors, the Palm Beach-style addition aims for completion before 2029.