I agree. I hate Trump as much as anyone else, but if a President I liked did this, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

In principle, I don’t mind if a space mainly used for events, with chairs placed there often, should be hardscape. It’s not as if lawn can’t be put back there in the future. Lawn isn’t a heritage tree or rose shrub.

To be fair though, the photo makes it look pretty huge as an expanse of paved area.

I agree. I despise Trump. But removing a lawn and putting in hardscape, in a spot where people often gather for events, is not an insult to heritage or anything like that.

If a president that I otherwise liked did this, I wouldn’t have a problem with it.

It’s not as if a lawn is super environmentally valuable. And I doubt people spread picnic blankets and play Frisbee on this lawn - they put chairs on it and walk on it with heels and hold events and stuff. A hard surface is the right thing for that type of use.

And if a future president decides to put lawn back in, they can! It’s not as blades of grass and sandy growing medium are irreplaceable.