Trump to remove historic Southern Magnolia tree from White House

UPDATED: Mar 31, 2025 18:14 IST

President Donald Trump has announced plans to chop down a historic Southern Magnolia tree, which is nearly two centuries old and is said to have been planted by former President Andrew Jackson.

The southern magnolia stands near the curved portico on the south side of the White House, a ceremonial site for welcoming foreign leaders and the president’s departure point for Marine One."

Announcing on a Truth Social post, Trump said that he was working with "the wonderful people at the Park Service" to make "tremendous enhancements to the White House, thereby preserving and protecting History!"

"One of the interesting dilemmas is a tree planted many years ago by the Legendary President and General, Andrew Jackson," Trump described. "It is a Southern Magnolia, that came from his home, The Hermitage, in Tennessee. That’s the good news!"

"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," he continued.

"The Historic wood from the tree will be preserved by the White House Staff, and may be used for other high and noble purposes!!!" the President added.

Jackson served as president from 1829 to 1837. He reportedly planted two magnolia trees near the White House in honour of his wife Rachel, who died in 1828.

However, the Park Service's (NPS) website, historical photographic documentation shows that magnolias first appeared at this location near the South Portico in the 1860s, still the trees are attributed to President Jackson. In 2006, the trees were designated as Witness Trees by the Park Service, having borne witness to many “significant historic and cultural events.”

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.

The tree was significantly pruned in 2017, during Trump's first term.

(With input from AP)