Fact check: Who designed the new Rose Garden layout?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, no specific designer is explicitly named for the new Rose Garden layout. However, the sources reveal that President Trump was the primary driving force behind the redesign decisions ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. The renovation involved replacing the grassy middle section with stone tiles ^{[5] [3]}, creating a hard surface patio-style space.

The National Park Service oversaw the actual renovation work ^{[1] [6]}, while the project was funded by the Trust for the National Mall ^[1]. President Trump's motivation for the changes was influenced by his favored patio at Mar-a-Lago ^{[1] [2]} and his concern about women wearing high heels on wet grass ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal important historical context missing from the original question: Rachel "Bunny" Mellon designed the original Rose Garden during the Kennedy administration ^{[1] [3] [4]}. This establishes that Trump's changes were modifications to an existing, historically significant design rather than a completely new garden.

The sources describe the renovation as "controversial" ^[3], suggesting there was public debate about altering this historic space. The characterization of the changes as "They Paved Paradise" ^[1] indicates criticism from preservation and design communities who may have viewed the stone replacement as inappropriate for the historic setting.

Landscape architects and garden historians would likely argue that preserving Mellon's original grass-centered design was more appropriate for the historic White House grounds, while Trump and his supporters benefited from creating a more functional entertainment space that better served their hosting needs.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question assumes there was a "new Rose Garden layout" with a specific designer, when the evidence suggests this was more accurately a modification or renovation of the existing Mellon design rather than a completely new layout ^{[1] [3] [4]}.

The framing as a "design" project may overstate the architectural sophistication of what appears to have been primarily Trump's personal preference for replacing grass with stone ^{[2] [3] [4]}, rather than a comprehensive landscape architecture project by a professional designer.