Former President Bill Clinton criticized Congress for not challenging President Donald Trump’s Rose Garden redesign, bringing a White House renovation dispute into Florida’s governor’s race.
The Independent reported Oct. 24 that Clinton spoke this week at a campaign event in Hollywood, Florida, for Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly. Clinton likened the redesigned space to “what looks like the entrance to Liberace’s bathroom” and faulted lawmakers for not objecting.
Jolly, a former Republican congressman, is running against Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. EconoTimes previously reported on Clinton’s support for Jolly.
The Independent reported that the lawn was replaced with a paved patio in summer 2025. Tables now sit beneath striped yellow-and-white umbrellas, in a style the outlet said recalls Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. At a July event, Trump said the new surface matched the White House and argued that wet grass had caused problems for women wearing high heels.
The Rose Garden has been part of the White House since 1903, The Independent reported. The outlet separately noted its use for press conferences and other events. A 1994 diplomatic visit was another use of the site: Clinton welcomed Israeli and Jordanian leaders there during a trip connected to the signing of the Washington Declaration, the outlet said.
The renovation program also includes a ballroom planned after the East Wing’s demolition, The Independent reported. Trump has said he and other donors would pay for a ballroom he values at about $400 million. The Washington Post reported in June that the contractor had given the administration a $600 million estimate, with taxpayers expected to cover at least half.
In a CNN poll conducted by SSRS in July, 73% of U.S. adults said Trump was paying too little attention to the problems they considered most important. The Independent reported that Trump campaigned for Donalds in Fort Myers on Friday and urged voters to support Republicans in November’s midterm elections. The Florida Department of State lists Nov. 3 as the general election date.
