President Trump is saying sayonara to a tree that President Andrew Jackson reportedly planted at the White House.
Mr. Trump announced Sunday on Truth Social that he is working with the residence staff on “tremendous enhancements to the White House,” and one of the “interesting dilemmas” they have faced is what to do with the “tree planted many years ago by the Legendary President and General, Andrew Jackson.”
“It is a Southern Magnolia, that came from his home, The Hermitage, in Tennessee. That’s the good news!” Mr. Trump said. “The bad news is that everything must come to an end, and this tree is in terrible condition, a very dangerous safety hazard, at the White House Entrance, no less, and must now be removed.”
Mr. Trump said the tree would be replaced “by another, very beautiful tree.”
“The Historic wood from the tree will be preserved by the White House Staff, and may be used for other high and noble purposes!!!” he said.
According to the National Park Service, the “folklore” is that President Jackson planted the tree’s seeds to honor his late wife, Rachel, who died shortly before he took office.
“In 2006, the trees were designated as Witness Trees by the National Park Service, having borne witness to many “significant historic and cultural events,” the park service website says. “The base of the trees also took the brunt of a Cessna airplane crash which targeted the White House in September 1994 and were subject to significant branch removal and pruning in December 2017.”
