There’s a big change headed to the White House this week, but it’s not the kind of change many were hoping for.
According to CNN, the iconic Jackson Magnolia tree will be cut down and removed in the upcoming days after it was deemed too old and decayed to stay on the White House lawn. The tree was planted during Andrew Jackson’s presidency nearly 200 hundred years ago, and extends from the first floor State Dining Room windows all the way up to the second floor executive residence. First lady Melania Trump reportedly requested the tree’s removal.
“Mrs. Trump personally reviewed the reports from the United States National Arboretum and spoke at length with her staff about exploring every option before making the decision to remove a portion of the Magnolia tree,” Trump's communications director Stephanie Grisham, explained toCNN. “After reviewing the reports, she trusted that every effort had been made to preserve the historic tree and was concerned about the safety of visitors and members of the press who are often standing right in front of the tree during Marine One lifts.”
The tree was planted in 1828 in honor of President Jackson’s late wife, Rachel, who died just days after he was elected. CNN points out the tree has served as the backdrop for many historical events and was also prominently featured on the back of the $20 bill from 1928 to 1998. Many dignitaries, including former president Barack Obama, have clipped seedlings from the magnolia and gifted them for planting.
Though the tree's removal may be disappointing to some, there is a bright side to the situation: Healthy offshoots from the Jackson Magnolia have been tended to at a greenhouse-like location near the White House, with some growing up to 10 feet tall. According to CNN, the plan is to take one of the offshoots and plant it where the original magnolia stood. So, it's not a complete loss.
