Melania Trump's new-look White House rose garden slammed ahead of Republican convention speech
Melania Trump has been hit with a wave of criticism after she unveiled the newly renovated White House rose garden.
Construction has been taking place in the famous garden, which is often used for presidential speeches, since late July.
It had remained largely unchanged since the early 1960s, when president John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie Kennedy asked Rachel Lambert Mellon to redesign it.
Ms Trump said: "The changes... are the result of a thoughtful and collaborative process carefully crafted with the help of scholars and experts in architecture, horticulture, design, and historic preservation."
But online critics hit out at the new-look garden when pictures of it looking much sparser than before were released over the weekend. #RoseGardenMassacre began trending on Twitter.
This woman.
In March, as Pandemic began, it was a tennis pavilion.
Now, as +175,000 -and climbing- American lives and millions of livelihoods have been lost, she unveils new & NOT improved Rose Garden.
She cut down Jackie’s trees!
I hope @DrBiden returns it to the way it was. https://t.co/zHC8wb0WRc— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro)
Some people questioned why the changes took place during the coronavirus pandemic, considered by many a low point in American history.
Referencing an earlier White House project by Ms Trump, political commentator Ana Navarro-Cárdenas tweeted: "This woman. In March, as Pandemic began, it was a tennis pavilion.
"Now, as +175,000 -and climbing- American lives and millions of livelihoods have been lost, she unveils new & NOT improved Rose Garden.
Meanwhile journalist Charles Blow said: “If this isn’t a Marie Antoinette moment I don’t know what is.
"Who cares about a redesigned rose garden when we’re in the middle of a pandemic, 175,000-plus people are dead and millions are out of work?”
If this isn’t a Marie Antionette moment I don’t know what is. Who cares about a redesigned rose garden when we’re in the middle of a pandemic, 175k+ people are dead and millions are out of work? https://t.co/x5APCx4bGv
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow)
Some Joe Biden supporters used the moment to ask the Democratic presidential candidate to undo the changes.
US air force veteran Daphne Portis said: "Dear Joe Biden, America is heartbroken over what Melania did to Jackie Kennedy's Rose Garden.
"I know you'll have a lot on your plate, but when you move in, can you please put it back the way it was?"
Dear @JoeBiden ,
America is heartbroken over what Melania did to Jackie Kennedy's Rose Garden.😢💔
I know you'll have a lot on your plate, but when you move in, can you please put it back the way it was?❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/AVxmWnKEmf— Daphne L Portis🌊✈🇺🇸 (@MissLynneNYC)
Others took against the colour scheme of the garden's new design.
Santiago Mayer asked: "Can we talk about how Jackie Kennedy’s Rose Garden was colorful and diverse and beautiful and Melania just made it... white?"
Can we talk about how Jackie Kennedy’s Rose Garden was colorful and diverse and beautiful and Melania just made it... white? pic.twitter.com/6jIendxup9
— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_)
The tall white roses in the new design were chosen in honour of the first papal visit to the White House by John Paul II in 1979, Ms Trump said. The walkways were made more accessible for disabled visitors, she added.
Some people said they liked the new design.
In a post comparing the old version with the new-look garden, journalist Chadwick Moore said: "Seen from this angle it’s clear how much more sophisticated and beautiful Melania’s Rose Garden redesign is. Absolutely lovely."
Ms Trump will give a speech at the Republican National Convention in support of her husband from the new rose garden on Tuesday.
