Former first lady Melania Trump has once again sparked public discussion over her controversial redesign of the White House Rose Garden.
The Daily Mail reported that in a social media post on her X account, Trump defended the changes she made to the garden during her time in the White House, as part of a larger effort to promote her upcoming book.
The Rose Garden overhaul in 2020, which drew substantial criticism at the time, removed mature dogwoods and added new plants, modern irrigation, and updated audiovisual equipment.
The renovation, which featured regimented flower arrangements, was widely criticized for erasing historical elements. Among those who voiced disapproval was presidential historian Michael Beschloss, who stated that the changes had "eviscerated" decades of American history.
In response to his comments, Trump posted an image of the garden in full bloom, defending the redesign as a preservation of tradition and grandeur for future generations.
Trump took to social media to challenge Beschloss directly, accusing him of sharing an image of the garden in its early stages and misleading the public about the redesign's impact. She asserted that the garden now boasts a healthy display of blooming roses and criticized Beschloss for spreading what she described as "dishonorable" misinformation.
"When the committee for the preservation of the White House asked me to renovate the Rose Garden, I felt a deep responsibility to respect tradition and to preserve its grandeur for future generations," Trump wrote.
She further emphasized that her forthcoming book, *Melania*, will detail the process behind the garden’s redesign and the efforts she and her team made to preserve its historical significance.
Trump's defense of the Rose Garden overhaul comes as part of a broader marketing campaign for her book, which is set to be released on October 1st. The book is available for pre-order on Amazon, with editions ranging from a $150 signed collector's version to a 304-page memoir priced at $40. Signed copies of the memoir are also available for $75.
In addition to recounting her experience with the Rose Garden renovation, Trump’s memoir will touch on various other aspects of her life and time as first lady. This includes a reflection on her past career as a model, which has also been a source of media scrutiny. In one social media post, she addressed the controversy surrounding her nude modeling work, framing it as a celebration of the human form.
Trump took the opportunity to defend her modeling career, particularly the nude photoshoots that drew public attention during her husband’s presidency.
"Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work?" Trump questioned in her post, adding, "The more pressing question is, why the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photo shoot?"
Her comments highlighted her frustration with the way her work has been perceived and the media's focus on it. Trump hinted that there is "more to this story," potentially signaling that her upcoming memoir will offer deeper insights into this aspect of her life.
In addition to her reflections on the Rose Garden and her modeling career, Trump also addressed a separate concern related to her husband, former President Donald Trump. In a video released as part of her ongoing promotional efforts, she criticized law enforcement’s response to an attempted assassination of Donald Trump in July, during a speech in Butler, Pennsylvania.
She expressed disbelief that the shooter was not apprehended before the event took place, adding that the situation warranted further investigation. "I can’t help but wonder why didn’t law enforcement officials arrest the shooter before the speech?" Trump said. "There is definitely more to this story. And we need to uncover the truth."
With her memoir set to hit shelves soon, Trump has been steadily releasing teasers of the content, from her defense of the Rose Garden to her personal reflections on her life as first lady and beyond. She has promised that the book will offer a deeper look at the behind-the-scenes events of her time in the White House, as well as previously unrevealed insights.
The memoir, simply titled *Melania*, is poised to become a central part of her husband’s campaign for the 2024 election. As Donald Trump makes his bid to return to the presidency, Melania’s reflections on their time in the White House could offer voters a closer look at the family behind the political figure.
