Trump blasts ‘stupid’ WH contractors after catching ‘nasty’ Rose Garden damage on video

Donald Trump declared that the contractors responsible were barred from returning to the White House grounds and would be charged for the repairs
PUBLISHED AUG 31, 2025
President Donald Trump lashed out at workers involved in his White House Rose Garden redesign (Screengrab/@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)
President Donald Trump lashed out at workers involved in his White House Rose Garden redesign (Screengrab/@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump angrily lashed out at subcontractors he blamed for damaging the White House Rose Garden.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump claimed he caught the culprits on surveillance video, which he attached to the post, after they left a visible gash in the limestone.



 

Donald Trump spots 25-yard gash in Rose Garden stonework

President Donald Trump leaned on his real estate background to explain his frustration with the stonework.

“I used, at the White House, the most beautiful marble and stone available anywhere. Surfaces are very important to me as a Builder. As everyone knows, I built many GREAT Buildings, and other things, over the years,” wrote Trump in his post.

Work continues in paving over the White House Rose Garden lawn on July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump today signed executive orders related to his AI
Work continues in paving over the White House Rose Garden lawn on July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

He continued by saying he took pride in the finished project. “At the White House, I am very proud of the beautiful stonework we did in the Rose Garden, in this case, using limestone plus. The Rose Garden is completed, and far more beautiful than anyone ever had in mind when it was conceived of, decades ago,” Trump said.

The president recalled the moment he spotted the flaw.

“Three days ago, while admiring the stonework, I happened to notice a huge gash in the limestone that extended more than 25 yards long. It was deep and nasty! I started yelling, ‘Who did this, and I want to find out now!’ — And I didn’t say this in a nice manner. I wondered, ‘Was it vandalism or, was it stupidity?’” Trump recalled in the post.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: U.S. President Donald Trump, joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk, who served as an adviser to Trump and led the Department of Government Efficiency, announced he would leave the Trump administration to refocus on his businesses. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump, joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump added that he tracked down the subcontractors responsible and barred them from returning to the White House. He said the incident was recorded by the estate’s security system.

The newly repaved Rose Garden of the White House is shown on August 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The newly repaved Rose Garden of the White House is shown on August 06, 2025 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Donald Trump shares video evidence of subcontractors at fault

President Trump went on to detail what the footage showed.

“Lo and behold, because of the fact that we’ve installed the finest security equipment anywhere, they brought back the stupid people, with their boss watching (in sunglasses!),' Trump mentioned in his classic style.

He continued, "It was a subcontractor that was installing heavy landscaping on a steel cart that was broken and tilting badly, with it rubbing hard against the soft, beautiful stone."



 

He concluded his post by vowing never to let the contractors work on the White House grounds again.

“I love and respect great workers and contractors, but something like this should never happen. Now, I’ll replace the stone, charge the contractor, and never let that contractor work at the White House again — But, how great is the video equipment? We caught them, cold. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” wrote Trump.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 22: A view of the recently renovated Rose Garden at the White House on Augus
A view of the recently renovated Rose Garden at the White House (Getty Images)

President Trump unveiled the revamped Rose Garden earlier this month with its central lawn paved over, sparking backlash from critics who compared the redesign to a “parking lot.”

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