Trump Adds Flagpoles, Art, Rose Garden Upgrades \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Donald Trump is reshaping the White House in his second term with new flagpoles, updated artwork, golden Oval Office accents, and plans to pave the Rose Garden lawn. The changes reflect Trump’s personal style and background in real estate. Critics and supporters alike are taking notice.
Quick Looks
- New Flagpoles: Two large poles to fly U.S. flags installed soon
- Oval Office Redesign: Gold trim, new artwork, Declaration of Independence display
- Trump Portraits: New paintings added, including post-assassination attempt image
- Rose Garden Plan: Lawn may be replaced with stone to fix soggy grass
- Presidential Tradition: Each president puts personal touches on White House
- Previous Projects: Melania Trump’s 2020 Rose Garden update, tennis pavilion
- Funding: Trump claims flagpoles and updates are privately funded
- Historical Context: Rose Garden dates back to JFK administration
- Public Reactions: Praise from allies, concerns from preservationists
- Real Estate Background: Trump continues to apply developer instincts
Deep Look
President Donald Trump is again transforming the nation’s most iconic residence, reshaping the White House in a style unmistakably his own. With new flagpoles, bold Oval Office updates, and even a potential overhaul of the Rose Garden, Trump is injecting personal flair into the historic home — just months into his second term.
From gold-trimmed interiors to symbolic artwork, and even a plan to cover up the Rose Garden’s famous lawn, the changes reflect Trump’s vision of an “American golden age” — both politically and aesthetically.
Flagpoles Coming Soon
On Wednesday, Trump strolled toward the Pennsylvania Avenue fence alongside White House head groundskeeper Dale Haney, scouting a location for two new flagpoles. The president told reporters the new additions would be used to fly the American flag, installed “in about a week or so,” and funded personally.
“They’ve needed flagpoles for 200 years,” Trump said. “And they’re going to be beautiful.”
Currently, the American and POW/MIA flags fly daily from the White House roof. Trump ordered them lowered earlier this week following Pope Francis’ death.
The move to install new flagpoles, paid out-of-pocket, reflects Trump’s background in real estate and luxury branding, where patriotic symbolism and grandeur often blend.
Oval Office: A Golden Touch
While every president has left their imprint on the Oval Office, Trump’s redesign emphasizes golden hues, dark drapery, and patriotic iconography. He added portraits of all past presidents, installed a Declaration of Independence display, and lined the room with glistening golden accents on the fireplace, doorways, and ceiling arches.
“One could really describe it as glistening,” said Paul Atkins, the new Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, after his swearing-in. “It’s the touch of a confident president.”
Trump told visiting Ohio State football players last week:
“I’ve done some ‘Trump touches’ to the Oval Office. It’s a little nicer than it used to be.”
Unlike some presidents who rely on decorators — Joe Biden famously enlisted his brother — Trump appears to be managing the aesthetic changes himself.
New Artwork: Trump Imagery Takes Center Stage
The president has also added new paintings and portraits, including a striking piece depicting him with his fist raised in the aftermath of the 2023 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
That painting displaced the official Barack Obama portrait, which has been moved to another wall.
Another new image shows Trump against a black background, with the red, white, and blue of the American flag superimposed. Positioned between the portraits of Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton, the portrait was revealed by Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Florida Republican, and confirmed by the White House.
Notably, one of the donated pieces was gifted by Andrew Pollock, whose daughter Meadow was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting. The personal ties further connect Trump’s narrative to moments of national tragedy and survival.
Rose Garden Renovation: “The Grass Just Doesn’t Work”
Perhaps the most controversial update may be the one yet to happen. In a recent Fox News interview, Trump said he’s considering paving over the lawn in the Rose Garden — a historic space created under President John F. Kennedy after a 1961 trip to France inspired him.
“It’s always soaking wet,” Trump told Laura Ingraham. “The women with the high heels, the grass just doesn’t work.”
His plan? Replace the lawn with “gorgeous stone” — while keeping the roses intact.
“It’s a Rose Garden. All of this stays,” Trump said. “Just the grass goes.”
The idea would mark the second major redesign of the space under Trump. In 2020, then-First Lady Melania Trump oversaw a redesign that added a limestone walking path, drainage improvements, and ADA accessibility features — while sparking both praise and criticism for its aesthetic changes.
Trump’s Real Estate Mindset
Trump’s approach to the White House remains consistent with his legacy as a real estate mogul and hotel developer. From the time he first took office in 2017, Trump has spoken openly about upgrading and improving the “people’s house.”
During his first term, he unveiled refurbished tennis courts, a new garden pavilion, and various landscape and infrastructure projects — including digital enhancements to improve AV capabilities during outdoor events.
His spokesperson Karoline Leavitt noted:
“President Trump is a real estate developer at heart and is always looking to improve the White House.”
While most presidents leave a subtle legacy inside the building, Trump seems eager to leave a bold, visual imprint.
Presidential Traditions and Public Reactions
Every first family has made its mark on the White House — Jacqueline Kennedy restored antiques, Nancy Reagan revamped the China Room, and Michelle Obama planted a vegetable garden that still thrives today.
Trump’s approach, however, blends the aesthetic of opulence with the symbolism of American patriotism — often more direct and theatrical than his predecessors.
Supporters see these updates as strong branding moves that echo Trump’s campaign slogans about restoring national pride. Critics argue the moves veer into personal glorification at the expense of historical continuity.
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