On Tuesday, President Donald Trump planted a new sapling at the White House to replace the historic "Jackson Magnolia," which was nearly 200 years old. He dubbed the new tree "MAGAnolia" after his "Make America Great Again" slogan. The original magnolia tree, believed to have been planted by President Andrew Jackson in the 19th century, was removed for safety reasons. The tree had been in poor condition since a small plane crashed into it in 1994, killing the pilot.
The "Jackson Magnolia" was a significant landmark at the White House, shading the South Portico for many presidencies. President Andrew Jackson planted the tree in memory of his wife, Rachel, who passed away before he took office in 1829. The decision to remove the tree was made after an assessment by experts, including master arborists and the National Park Service. The new sapling, a direct descendant of the original tree, was grown at the National Park Service Greenhouse. The remnants of the old tree will be preserved by the Office of the Curator and honored by the White House