White House Covers Rose Garden With Fake Grass for Easter Egg Roll

The Trump administration's controversial changes to the iconic White House garden continue to draw criticism.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:19pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of the empty White House Rose Garden, now covered in a stark white stone surface, with warm sunlight and deep shadows creating a contemplative mood.The controversial changes to the iconic White House Rose Garden continue to draw criticism from those who see the new patio-like surface as a disrespectful departure from the garden's historical significance.Washington Today

At this year's White House Easter Egg Roll, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted the annual family event, which included reading stories in the Rose Garden. However, the famed Rose Garden was paved over last year, so the White House placed fake grass down for the occasion.

Why it matters

The Rose Garden is an iconic part of the White House grounds, with a history dating back to the Kennedy administration. The Trump administration's decision to pave over the garden and replace it with a patio-like surface has drawn significant criticism from those who see it as a disrespectful change to an important presidential landmark.

The details

As part of the Easter Egg Roll festivities, guests listened to stories being read in the Rose Garden, which now features a white stone surface instead of the original garden. Despite criticism over the changes, Trump defended the new look, saying 'it's a stone that's the same color as the White House itself. And because it's very white, it's going to reflect the heat. It's not going to be very hot like if you had a dark stone.'

  • The White House Easter Egg Roll took place on April 6, 2026.
  • The Rose Garden was paved over by the Trump administration last year.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who oversaw the controversial changes to the Rose Garden.

Melania Trump

The First Lady who participated in the Easter Egg Roll event in the altered Rose Garden.

Jacqueline Kennedy

The former First Lady who worked with President Kennedy to create the original Rose Garden design.

Janet Lee Auchincloss

Jacqueline Kennedy's mother, who spoke at the 1965 dedication of the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, which has since been destroyed.

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What they’re saying

“We're getting great reviews on the Rose Garden.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“President Kennedy loved gardens very much, and as you said, he planned this garden with Jacqueline, and I know that it makes him very happy to have it dedicated to her. And I cannot think of anything that could have more meaning to all the people who care about Jackie than to have this lovely garden as a memory of the years that she shared with him here.”

— Janet Lee Auchincloss, Jacqueline Kennedy's mother

What’s next

The White House has not announced any plans to restore the original Rose Garden design.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's changes to the iconic Rose Garden have sparked ongoing controversy, with critics arguing that the new patio-like surface disrespects the garden's historical significance and connection to past presidencies. This event highlights the political tensions surrounding the management and preservation of White House landmarks.