Summary
- Trump called a subcontractor “stupid” for damaging Rose Garden stonework.
- Damage was a large, deep gash in limestone over 25 yards long.
- Incident caught on White House security footage shared by Trump.
- The contractor used a broken cart that scraped the new stone.
On Truth Social, the Commander in Chief posted security camera footage of the purported event, accusing workmen of causing a large gash in the garden's renowned bespoke stonework.
“Surfaces are very important to me as a Builder. As everyone knows,”
Trump wrote on his social media app on Saturday.
“The Rose Garden is completed, and far more beautiful than anyone ever had in mind when it was conceived of, decades ago.”
“Three days ago, while admiring the stonework, I happened to notice a huge gash in the limestone that extended more than 25 yards long,”
the president wrote, adding,
“It was deep and nasty!”
Trump included surveillance footage in the post showing the "stupid people" working for an unidentified subcontractor who broke the masonry while moving a shrubbery on a steel cart.
Additionally, Trump attacked the "boss" worker who was "watching (in sunglasses!)" as the "beautiful stone" crumbled.
“I love and respect great workers and contractors, but something like this should never happen. Now I’ll replace the stone, charge the contractor, and never let that contractor work at the White House again,”
he wrote.
“We caught them, cold. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,”
the president concluded.
It is not immediately clear on what date the damage occurred.
Why did Trump say he called the workers "stupid" instead of blaming equipment?
President Trump said he called the workers "stupid" rather than blaming the equipment because he believes the damage could have been avoided with more care and attention from the workers themselves.
He implied that the equipment was not at fault but rather the "stupid" actions and negligence of the subcontractor workers who caused the damage to the delicate limestone in the Rose Garden.
Trump emphasized the importance of craftsmanship and care, indicating that anyone working with delicate materials should be more careful. He suggested that the workers’ lack of attention and poor supervision — such as the supervisor standing by watching — were directly responsible for the damage.