The White House is the people’s house—not an extension of Mar-a-Lago. Donald Trump had the Rose Garden’s central lawn ripped out and replaced with a white stone patio, complete with tables and yellow-and-white striped umbrellas reminiscent of his private club. Bill Clinton’s verdict was devastating: “I think Congress made a mistake not protesting turning the Rose Garden into what looks like the entrance to Liberace’s bathroom.” The line gets a laugh. But the loss deserves more than a punchline. This is a place associated with American diplomacy and consequential moments in our history. Clinton himself hosted the leaders of Israel and Jordan there in 1994 during the signing of the Washington Declaration. Trump’s defense? The grass got wet, and women’s high heels sank “like quicksand.” Fixing drainage is one thing. Paving over a historic lawn to create a resort-style patio is another. This wasn’t an improvement. It was the destruction of the garden’s character—and a failure of stewardship. Presidents are temporary occupants. They should care for the places entrusted to them, not remake every corner in their own gaudym weired image.b