Former President Donald Trump is lashing out at a contractor after claiming a “huge gash” was left in the newly renovated White House Rose Garden patio.
Trump, 79, took to Truth Social on Aug. 30 to air his frustration, sharing a video he said proved the damage and announcing that the responsible group has been banned from ever working at the White House again.
In his lengthy post, Trump said he takes particular pride in the Rose Garden’s stonework, describing the use of “the most beautiful marble and stone available anywhere.” He explained that the limestone patio had recently been restored and that he considered the finished project to be one of the most beautiful renovations in decades.
That pride quickly turned to anger when Trump said he noticed a serious 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!’” he recalled, admitting he did not say it “in a nice manner.”
According to Trump, surveillance cameras captured the cause: a subcontractor moving heavy landscaping on a broken steel cart. “It was tilting badly and rubbing hard against the soft, beautiful stone,” he wrote. Trump accused the workers of negligence, calling them “stupid people,” while clarifying he still respects great contractors who take pride in their work.
The former president said the damaged limestone will now be replaced, with the costs billed to the contractor. “I’ll never let that contractor work at the White House again,” Trump declared.
The footage, shared alongside his post, shows two employees wheeling a large plant across the patio in a cart that briefly gets stuck, while another uses a leaf blower. A man Trump identified as the boss also appears in the clip, wearing sunglasses and holding a blower. While the video highlights the incident, the specific “gash” Trump referenced was not clearly visible.
The White House began Rose Garden renovations in early June, described by officials as a “restoration” meant to preserve history while improving functionality for events. The work followed the 2020 redesign overseen by Melania Trump, which drew mixed reactions at the time.
Despite his frustration, Trump closed out his rant with praise for the surveillance system. “But how great is the video equipment? We caught them, cold,” he boasted.
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