Trump to plant new tree at the White House after historic magnolia removal
A magnolia tree, known as the Jackson Magnolia, stands alongside the South Portico of the White House in Washington, DC (Photo: Getty Images)
President Donald Trump is set to help plant a new magnolia sapling on the South Grounds of the White House, replacing the nearly 200-year-old Jackson Magnolia that was recently cut down due to safety concerns, reports AP News.
The White House removed the 200-year-old historic magnolia planted by Andrew Jackson after President Trump announced on March 30 that the iconic tree was in "terrible condition, a very dangerous safety hazard" and needed to be taken down.
The iconic tree had been part of many official events, greeting presidents and prime ministers and marking the spot where the president boards the Marine One helicopter.
The decision to remove the tree followed a safety assessment by Peter Hart, a registered consulting arborist. The report stated that the tree had "surpassed the time of serving as an aesthetic and historic landmark" and posed a risk of structural failure.
The removal involved the National Park Service, the US Secret Service, and other White House officials.
Planting a new legacy
On Tuesday, Trump will plant a 12-year-old magnolia sapling, a direct descendant of the original Jackson Magnolia.
The sapling was cultivated by the National Park Service specifically to replace the historic tree. According to folklore, the original tree was planted by President Andrew Jackson using seeds brought from his home in Tennessee in memory of his wife, Rachel.
In 2022, then-President Joe Biden also planted a southern magnolia sapling on the White House grounds, continuing the tradition of preserving the magnolia's legacy.
The wood from the removed Jackson Magnolia will be preserved for archival purposes, and some parts may be repurposed for "high and noble purposes," as Trump noted.
