Trump’s ‘Rose Garden Club’ debut triggers liberal backlash as lavish dinner menu surfaces

WASHINGTON, DC: President Trump debuted the newly renovated White House patio, aka "Rose Garden Club," with an exclusive dinner for Republican lawmakers and allies, turning a quiet Friday evening into a political flashpoint. 

While the event featured an upscale menu and a celebratory tone, critics quickly condemned it as tone-deaf amid ongoing economic struggles, sparking swift backlash online and in political circles.

What was the menu for Trump’s exclusive dinner at revamped Rose Garden?

On Friday, September 6, Donald Trump, 79, hosted an exclusive dinner on the newly paved White House patio. The event had guests whom the MAGA leader described as “people who can bring peace and success to our country.”

The guests were treated to a lavish menu featuring choices like Rose Garden salad, New York strip steak, thyme-roasted chicken, summer pasta primavera, and a rich seven-layer fudge cake for dessert.

The gathering came just one day after a similar event for top tech executives had to be relocated indoors to the State Dining Room due to heavy rain. That event had been originally planned for the same patio space.

Several Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Representative Beth Van Duyne of Texas, and Representative Ronny Jackson, publicly thanked the president for what they described as an “epic” evening.

The newly renovated area, now more patio-like in design, features yellow-and-white striped umbrellas modeled after Trump’s Mar-a-Lago aesthetic. While some applauded the redesign, others criticized it for replacing a portion of the White House's green space.

Trump defended the changes, claiming the paving was necessary to avoid muddy conditions that “ruin women’s heels.”

Trump White House slammed for being out of touch with economic struggles

The event sparked sharp criticism from liberal commentators and political opponents, who viewed the exclusive celebration as out of touch with the economic struggles many Americans are currently facing.

Following a wave of social media posts showcasing the Rose Garden Club dinner, California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a scathing critique of Trump and his Republican allies. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Democrat mocked the event, accusing GOP leaders of sipping Diet Cokes at an exclusive "club" while the economy struggles.

“Our economy is in a downward spiral, but don’t worry — the @GOP are spending their time cheersing Diet Cokes at a new, exclusive 'club'” Newsom wrote, responding to a post from House Speaker Mike Johnson about the event.

Newsom also took a personal swipe at Johnson, writing, “After ripping health care from 17 million Americans and slashing food stamps for kids, we’re glad Mike ‘Marie Antoinette’ Johnson and his boy friends had time to toast the grand opening of Predator Patio.”

Newsom wasn’t the only critic. Outrage flooded X, with one user posting, “The Rose Garden CLUB???? WTF? Seriously???”

Another tweeted, "Holy sheeeeit! That bulls**t a** 'Rose Garden club' really is a country club?!?! WTF is going on here?!! Who keeps the profits?! This is insane."

One mocked the setting, writing, "Looks like a rundown mall food court,” while another added, “Remember when you are clipping coupons and stretching your budget at the grocery store, that Trump has your tax dollars paying for dinner parties on his rose garden patio.”

One more enraged commenter wrote, "WE are paying for the rich and elite to wine and dine at the 'Rose Garden Club' while we all struggle with rising cost of food, housing, etc. with cuts made to SNAP, Medicaid, school lunches etc.! 🤬🤬🤬."

A frustrated person questioned, "Functional?For what,pay to play politics?Oligarch privileges already operational?We loved the ROSE GARDEN WHEN IT HAD ROSES,not a for-profit PRIVATIZED Rose Club. Like the money changers in the Temple. Disgraceful abuse of People’s House& taxpayers.WHO PAYS FOR THESE PARTIES⁉️"

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