Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Trump Slammed Over Plans For Magnolia Tree Planted By Andrew Jackson To Be Chopped Down

Donald Trump; portrait of Andrew Jackson
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Hulton Archive/Getty Images

President Trump took to Truth Social to reveal his plans to chop down a magnolia tree that was planted next to the White House to commemorate President Andrew Jackson's late wife in the early 1800s.

President Donald Trump was criticized after he took to Truth Social to announce he would chop down a magnolia tree that was planted next to the White House to commemorate President Andrew Jackson's late wife in the early 1800s, touting the move as one of the "tremendous enhancements" his administration has undertaken.

Trump announced that, following consultations with the Executive Residence Staff and the National Park Service, his administration has decided to replace the tree on the White House’s south side, citing safety concerns. The tree has historically served as a backdrop for past presidents greeting foreign dignitaries.


The tree’s seeds were originally brought to Washington from the Hermitage, Jackson’s home near Nashville, Tennessee. They were planted in memory of Jackson’s late wife, Rachel, who passed away just months before he took office.

You can see it below.

Andrew Jackson's magnolia tree on the south side of the White House@EricLDaugh/X

But historical significance appears to matter little to Trump despite his claim that White House staff will preserve the tree's wood:

"Working together with a fantastic and very talented Executive Residence Staff, along with the wonderful people at the National Park Service, we are making 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. 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. This process will take place next week, and will be replaced by another, very beautiful tree."
"The Historic wood from the tree will be preserved by the White House Staff, and may be used for other high and noble purposes!!!"

You can see his post below.

Screenshot of Donald Trump's post@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social

Many have condemned Trump's action.


Trump's move is ironic given the parallels he shares with Jackson.

Recent deportation flights carrying Venezuelans to El Salvador, despite a court ruling prohibiting them, highlight the Trump administration’s apparent disregard for the separation of powers despite the fact that the president lacks the authority to defy a court order.

Historically, Jackson also demonstrated a willingness to bypass constitutional procedures. A staunch populist, Jackson distrusted federal institutions, often prioritizing states’ rights over national unity. His disdain for his predecessor, John Quincy Adams, mirrors Trump’s hostility toward Joe Biden.

Trump’s attacks on agencies like USAID and the Department of Education echo Jackson’s aggressive campaign against the Bank of the United States, which he viewed as too powerful for a democratic society.

Perhaps the most striking parallel lies in forced removals. Just as Trump, in his State of the Union address, pledged to deport migrants accused of violent crimes, Jackson used his first State of the Union to lay the groundwork for the forced removal of Indigenous tribes to lands west of the Mississippi.

At the time, Jackson’s critics in Congress accused him of betraying the republic’s founding ideals—criticisms that resonate under the second Trump administration.

More from News/political-news

man in front of computer code
Chris Yang on Unsplash

Conspiracy Theories That Seem Believable The More You Look Into Them

We tend to think of conspiracy theories as a phenomenon of the digital age. But the internet and mobile devices only allow them to be created and spread faster.

Conspiracy theories have likely been around as long as human civilization has. They are, at their root, just another form of rumors and gossip.

Keep ReadingShow less
People protesting, one protestor holding a sign that reads, 'Enough'
Photo by Liam Edwards on Unsplash

People Explain The Pettiest Reasons They Boycott A Specific Brand

No matter how many complaints we file or phone calls we make, some businesses refuse to catch a hint about their bad practices until we hit it where it hurts the most: their bottom line.

While some people will give a business every possible chance before refusing to be a customer anymore, others will boycott over the most petty reasons in existence.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dan Rather; Donald Trump
Theo Wargo/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Dan Rather Goes Viral With Epic 'Turkish Proverb' Aimed At Trump—And It's On Point

Legendary journalist Dan Rather went viral and had social media users nodding their heads after sharing a supposed Turkish proverb about "clowns" aimed at President Donald Trump.

In recent days, the Trump administration has come under fire for the Signal chat scandal, in which top officials discussed war plans in Yemen on an unsecured server; deported a man to El Salvador and defended the move because the man had "traffic violations;" has continued to court controversy over Trump's repeated threats to annex Greenland; has further aggravated relations with Canada; and launched a global trade war that has sent markets tumbling.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Rosalyn Sandri
@rosie.sandri/TikTok

Trans Texas Teacher Resigns After Being Targeted By MAGA Account 'Libs Of TikTok'

Rosalyn Sandri, a transgender high school English teacher in Texas, revealed she was forced to resign from her position "for my safety and the safety of the students" following online death threats after being doxxed by the far-right "Libs of TikTok" account.

Sandri, an English teacher at Red Oak High School just south of Dallas for the past three years, resigned on Monday—Trans Day of Visibility—following a wave of death threats, hate mail, and violent messages. Her decision came shortly after Libs of TikTok circulated a TikTok video she had shared about feeling affirmed by her students.

Keep ReadingShow less
Padma Lakshmi Drags White Influencers Who Trashed Michelin-Starred South Indian Restaurant
@theviplist/TikTok; @padmalakshmi/TikTok

Padma Lakshmi Drags White Influencers Who Trashed Michelin-Starred South Indian Restaurant

Former Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi tore into TikTok influencers who gave a scathing review of Semma, a Michelin-starred South Indian restaurant in New York City.

Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens, known for their often rage-baiting food critique videos on their TikTok page, The VIP List, drew backlash for their harsh condemnation of the West Village eatery helmed by executive chef Vijay Kumar, who features dishes he and his mother used to prepare when he was growing up in Tamil Nadu.

Keep ReadingShow less