President Donald Trump has been vocal about his expertise with green lawns. Since his second inauguration, he often talks about his passion for grass, even more than issues like the economy, the war in Iran, or midterm elections.
In an interview with The Spectator, Trump pointed out his plans to pave over some areas of the Oval Office’s lawn. He believes keeping the grass is problematic. Trump has frequently discussed his views on grass, saying, “Grass is like humans. It has a life.” Over 18 months, he has mentioned grass in public forums at least 45 times, averaging every 12 days. This excludes numerous social media posts.
Trump’s interest stems from his background as a New York real estate developer and his love for construction projects. It also reflects his frequent visits to golf courses. In his second term, Trump aims to redesign the White House and Washington’s scenery that aligns with his tastes.
His knowledge of grass seems extensive due to his ownership of many golf courses, where maintaining good grass is key. Trump even claimed, “I know more about grass than any human being, I think, anywhere in the world.” This was while awarding the Kennedy Center Honors. Trump’s frequent mentions of grass arise when he talks about beautification efforts in Washington.
Matt Koch from Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, who describes himself as a “grass nerd,” met with Trump for discussions on grass types for the South Lawn. Koch was impressed by Trump’s detailed inquiries. They talked grass for half an hour.
Trump has managed to bring up grass at various events, ranging from executive orders on TikTok to pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys. During meetings, he also discusses the need to re-grass certain areas with the best professionals. At multiple events, he assures attendees of his adeptness with grass.
Last May, during a Cabinet meeting, Trump emphasized his efforts for fountains, parks, and monument facelifts. Despite new construction replacing grass, he defended decisions by recounting episodes with high heels sinking in the Rose Garden’s mud. This led to plans for more hard surfaces. Construction of a helipad also removed grass from the South Lawn.
Scotts Miracle-Gro pledged $1 million to restore areas used during Trump’s UFC octagon birthday celebration, further removing grass. Trump chose a custom grass blend comprising several fescues and bluegrasses. He asked detailed questions and seemed informed on turfgrass, showing knowledge from golf course ownership.
Professor Bert McCarty from Clemson University explains that golfers, like Trump, admire the uniqueness and challenges of different courses. Trump has indicated his intent for Washington parks to rival the aesthetics of Augusta National Golf Club and his own course, Trump National Golf Club.
While Augusta’s setup is often perceived as idyllic, McCarty notes that their high budget achieves extraordinary beauty. Trump’s plans aim to reach similar levels at his properties and beyond.
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