Historic White House magnolia cut back for safety reasons

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A different kind of tree-trimming took place at the White House on Wednesday when part of a historic magnolia tree on the south grounds was cut off because it had become a safety risk, a spokeswoman for first lady Melania Trump said.

The nearly 200-year-old tree was cut back while President Donald Trump and his family are in Florida for the holidays.

Spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said earlier in the week Mrs. Trump had given her OK for a large portion of the tree to be cut back after she reviewed reports about the magnolia's condition prepared by government experts and explored options with White House staff.

Mrs. Trump was concerned for the safety of visitors and journalists who often stand in front of the tree during certain events, Grisham said. The first lady has asked that wood from the tree be preserved, and that seedlings be available if an opportunity arises to plant a new tree.

President Andrew Jackson added the magnolia to the south grounds in 1835, according to the White House Historical Association.

A famed magnolia tree, at left, was trimmed back Wednesday at the White House in Washington.Andrew Harnik ~ Associated Press

It stands on the west side of the South Portico, rising almost as tall as the White House itself, and is one of two magnolias flanking the south entrance.

The White House did not inform news organizations ahead of time the tree would be trimmed Wednesday. Despite the White House saying a large portion of tree would be removed, before and after photos showed that not much of the tree had been cut away after all.

Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton, who grew up in the White House during Bill Clinton's two terms in office, tweeted her thanks late Tuesday to the horticulturists and National Park Service attendants who take care of the White House grounds. The White House is part of a national park.

"Thank you @FLOTUS for preserving part of a tree I & so many have treasured," Clinton tweeted to Mrs. Trump, using an acronym for "first lady of the United States."

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Members of the White House staff photograph the trimming of the famed magnolia tree Wednesday in Washington.Andrew Harnik ~ Associated Press