Kathrine Frich
Home renovations test even the strongest marriages.
When someone rips up the backyard without asking, fireworks usually follow.
That universal rule applies even at the highest levels of government.
A muddy problem
President Donald Trump recently overhauled a famous outdoor space in Washington. He replaced the historic lawn with stone paving.
He shared the story during a dinner for the Rose Garden Club according to Express. Addressing the crowd, he explained the sudden landscaping shift.
“I want to welcome you to the Rose Garden. You know, this is a whole new thing. This used to be grass,” he said.
“You know, the White House, you don’t realize this, it’s built on a wetland. So it didn’t have to rain. The grass was always soaking wet,” he noted.
Unhappy at home
“If you had a news conference, the reporters, who are back there, I think, the reporters, they walk out with their shoes. The female reporters, in particular, they weren’t thrilled,” he explained.
Fixing the mud problem created a new issue indoors. Behind the scenes, Melania Trump apparently disapproved of the surprise construction.
“And I took a little heat from my wife. She said, ‘Darling, what did you do with my grass?’ I said, ‘People got tired of standing in mud,'” he told guests.
Fixing the damage
Beyond the garden, the president claimed the historic residence was falling apart before his return. He painted a grim picture of crumbling architecture.
“The columns were falling down. The plaster was falling off. You made a speech, and I was saying, ‘Couldn’t you fix up the paint job up there?'” he recalled.
He wanted to use a harsh word to describe the building’s previous state. However, the first lady warned him against swearing.
“Normally I would have said it was a s___house. This place was not properly taken care of. I was told by my wife, you have to act presidential, so don’t use foul language,” he shared.
Paying the bill
The administration is actively “bringing the White House back to shape,” according to his speech.
“You know, it looked, and this place is tippy top now. including all the brand-new, beautiful stone. I paid for it myself,” he stated.
He specifically highlighted the expensive materials used for the new walkways.
“I don’t know if you got to walk into the marble or the statuary. It’s called statuary. The statuary marble, the white,” he concluded.
Sources: The Mirror, AP, Express
