President Donald Trump hosted a dinner for roughly 100 Republican lawmakers Friday night in the newly paved White House Rose Garden, announcing the space as the "Rose Garden Club" and thanking attendees for backing his legislative priorities.
Trump addressed the gathering, which included dozens of House Republicans and several GOP senators, holding a microphone as he described the event as the first meeting of what he called a club "for senators, for congresspeople and for people in Washington, and frankly, people that can bring peace and success to our country." He told guests he intended for a group of technology executives who dined at the White House on Thursday — including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg — to be the first to use the renovated space, but that their dinner was moved indoors because of rain.
Trump said the Rose Garden renovation addressed longstanding problems with the space, including soggy ground that he said caused some attendees to sink into the mud during press events. "Every time we’d have a press conference, women in particular were sinking deep into the mud and at some point I said, you know, it’s time to make the change," he said. He added that officials had "picked a great stone" and installed a new speaker system.
The White House did not publicly announce the creation of a "Rose Garden Club" before the dinner. Officials have in recent years used the Rose Garden for formal announcements, bill signings and ceremonial events; the renovation and now the branding of the space mark a new chapter in how the administration is presenting it to lawmakers and visitors.
Trump thanked the lawmakers for supporting his legislation and framed the gathering as both social and policy-oriented. The dinner followed the administration's effort earlier in the week to bring together corporate leaders and members of Congress for private conversations at the executive residence.
Attendees and aides who accompanied lawmakers described the event as largely social. Details on the menu and specifics of private discussions were not released by the White House. The president's remarks emphasized his view of the space as a political and symbolic venue for hosting allies and influential visitors.
The use of the Rose Garden for a partisan gathering that the president characterized as a club drew attention because the grounds are traditionally used for a range of official functions, including nonpartisan ceremonies. The White House has broad discretion over events held on the grounds, but the naming and framing of a recurring private group in that prominent location is a notable development in the residence's public presentation.
The Rose Garden renovation and Friday night dinner come as the administration seeks to maintain close ties with congressional allies while cultivating relationships with business and technology leaders. Officials have framed such gatherings as part of broader efforts to advance policy goals and foster private-sector engagement with the White House.
Trump's remarks on Friday night and the unveiling of the "Rose Garden Club" add to a pattern of newly styled initiatives and branding by the administration for White House spaces and events. Administration officials did not immediately provide a schedule of future "club" events or a formal charter for the group.
The dinner took place Sept. 5, 2025. Further details about participants and any policy outcomes tied to the gathering were not disclosed by the White House by the end of the evening.