Melania Trump reportedly isn’t happy with some of the construction work Donald Trump is carrying out at the White House, according to the new book Regime Change, which chronicles the inner workings of Trump’s second term.
According to the book, written by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, the couple have clashed over several renovation projects, with Melania reportedly opposing plans to build a new ballroom and redesign the Rose Garden, which she oversaw during Donald Trump’s first term, among other changes.
She joins many others who have criticized the White House renovations, including the decision to paint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool “American flag” blue. The project quickly backfired after the water turned green within days, with reports also claiming several ducks around the pool died shortly afterwards. Keep reading to find out more…
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Melania Trump Was Reportedly 'Very Unhappy' With Donald Trump's White House Plans
In the book, which was published on June 23rd, Haberman and Swan wrote that Melania was very proud of her Rose Garden redesign from Donald Trump's first term, which included a new limestone border around the lawn and roses in white and pastel shades. They said she viewed it as "one of her proudest achievements," so she was understandably "very unhappy" when Trump planned to pave over part of it.
The authors also claimed that the couple, who have long faced speculation about the state of their marriage and reportedly "live separate lives," eventually reached a compromise. According to the book, stone tiles would cover the grass, while the rose bushes would remain untouched.
Trump's plans for a new White House ballroom have also reportedly caused tension with his wife. The East Wing, which once housed the Office of the First Lady, was demolished in October 2025 to make way for the new ballroom…
Melania Trump Reportedly Objected To Donald Trump's Ballroom And Oval Office Plans
White House staff reportedly worked to manage the couple's "competing desires about the future of the complex." The book states: "Mrs. Trump, who preferred a quiet environment with minimal disturbances and objected to living in a construction zone, had repeatedly expressed concern about the size and location of the ballroom."
Melania also reportedly wasn't a fan of her husband's gilded Oval Office redesign. The book recounts an Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Independence Day in 2025, during which the first lady made it clear that "she was not a great fan of all the gold."
"She's a minimalist," the book quotes the president as telling Johnson. "But this is the Oval Office. It just looks better."
Donald And Melania Trump Reportedly 'Live Separate Lives'
Donald and Melania Trump have reportedly been "living separate lives" for years, even before his second term in office. Melania rarely appeared on the campaign trail, making only a handful of public appearances alongside her husband.
One source previously told People: "They were living separate lives before his second presidency. It's unlikely being under the microscope of the nation is going to change anything." Speculation has also intensified after Melania did not publicly acknowledge her husband's 80th birthday last month, something political watchers were quick to notice.
Last year, author Michael Wolff told The Daily Beast Podcast that the couple are effectively "separated" and "live separate lives." However, the White House dismissed Wolff's claims, calling him a "lying sack of [expletive]" and "a fraud," but speculation about their relationship has continued.
Donald And Melania Trump Reportedly Sleep In Separate Beds Aboard Air Force One
The rumors have also been fueled by claims that the couple sleep in separate beds aboard Air Force One. In his new book, Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery, Gavin Newsom described the first time he saw the inside of the presidential aircraft during Trump's first administration. Upon entering the private bedroom area, he said he saw two beds separated by several feet...
"This was the chamber where he and Melania, on trips to distant places, retired," Newsom wrote. "A room with two beds, I could see, separated by more than a few feet."
"Melania wanted one bed," Newsom recalled Trump saying. "But two beds, you know, two beds next to each other." "He seemed to be winking," Newsom added.
