Trump orders removal of historic tree at White House entrance
An almost 200-year-old tree growing at the entrance to the White House will be removed for safety reasons, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday. The sapling was originally brought from his estate near Nashville, Tennessee, by Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the USA.
"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. This process will take place next week, and will be replaced by another, very beautiful tree," Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, emphasising that wood from the cut tree "may be used for other high and noble purposes!"
The southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) grows near the south wing of the White House, where foreign leaders are often welcomed. From there, American presidents also depart for the Marine One helicopter.
According to the National Park Service website, cited by the AP agency, the sapling was brought from his estate near Nashville, Tennessee, by Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the USA.
The age-old tree was damaged after being hit by a plane
It was most likely planted to commemorate the president's wife, Rachel, who died shortly before the inauguration in 1829. Jackson was the first U.S. president from the Democratic Party and served until 1837.
The AP recalls that the tree was significantly pruned in 2017, during Trump's first term. It was also damaged in 1994 when a small Cessna plane crashed on the South Lawn, hitting the White House.
