Historic magnolia at White House to be removed for safety
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 of this tree was originally brought from his estate near Nashville, Tennessee, by the 7th President of the USA, Andrew Jackson.
"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 Thruth Social, emphasizing 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 tree's sapling was brought from his estate near Nashville, Tennessee, by the 7th President of the USA, Andrew Jackson.
The age-old tree was damaged after being hit by a plane
It was most likely planted to commemorate Jackson's wife, Rachel, who died shortly before his 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.
