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By Joe Edwards
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President Donald Trump used an Oval Office appearance Monday to praise Scotts Miracle-Gro, saying the lawn-and-garden company deserved a “plug” after helping restore the White House grounds at no charge.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Scotts would provide “the best grass you can get” for parks in Washington, D.C., and added: “They do great grass. What can I tell you? I gotta give them a plug because they did the White House for free.”
Trump said he accepted the offer after a “friend” approached him about replacing the White House lawn. “I said, ‘I’ll take it. How much?’ He said, ‘Free,’” Trump said.
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"President Trump is generously donating his time and resources to beautify the People’s House, a project which past presidents only dreamed about. Since announcing this historic plan, the White House has been inundated with calls from generous Americans and American companies wishing to contribute," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Newsweek on Tuesday.
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Newsweek emailed Scotts Miracle-Gro for comment on Tuesday.
A Free South Lawn Restoration
The remarks followed Scotts Miracle-Gro’s June announcement that it would contribute $1 million in money, products and technical support to the National Park Service to restore the South Lawn after the UFC Freedom 250 event held there on June 14.
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The company said at the time that the work would include sod and a custom turfgrass blend developed for the South Lawn, and that Trump selected the blend from eight options presented by Scotts Miracle-Gro. Jim Hagedorn, then the company’s chairman and chief executive, said the South Lawn was “a living piece of U.S. history” and that Scotts was contributing to “the nation’s most recognizable backyard.”
Campaign finance records reviewed by OpenSecrets show Scotts Miracle-Gro and its affiliates gave $770,496 during the 2024 cycle, including $500,000 to Make America Great Again Inc., which has been described as the main pro-Trump super PAC.
Glyphosate Named a Priority
The White House promotion also came months after Trump signed a February executive order invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to prioritize supplies of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides.
The order said glyphosate-based herbicides “play a critical role” in U.S. agriculture, called them “a cornerstone” of agricultural productivity, and directed the agriculture secretary to use DPA authorities to ensure “a continued and adequate supply” of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides, leaving scientists and environmentalists deeply concerned.
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Scotts Miracle-Gro was not identified in the order. But the company has a significant role in the consumer Roundup market. In its 2025 annual report, Scotts said it is the “exclusive agent” of Monsanto, a Bayer subsidiary, for the marketing and distribution of certain consumer Roundup-branded products in the U.S.
Scotts’ own glyphosate statement says it does not own the Roundup brand, but “distribute[s] the product to retailers for sale to consumers” and has served in that role since 1998.
Roundup Litigation
Bayer has faced extensive litigation over Roundup and glyphosate, while maintaining the product is safe.
A June Supreme Court ruling later strengthened Monsanto’s position in Roundup litigation, with Newsweek reporting that the 7-2 decision could block thousands of suits alleging the company failed to warn consumers that the weedkiller could cause cancer.
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What's Next
The Scotts Miracle-Gro lawn restoration is part of Trump's broader effort to remake the White House complex and surrounding grounds. Since returning to office, Trump has overseen the installation of new flagpoles on the North and South Lawns, changes to the Rose Garden, and extensive updates to the Oval Office. The administration has also moved forward with construction of a new White House ballroom, a project Trump has argued is needed to accommodate larger state events and official functions.
But not everyone has welcomed the changes. Critics have questioned the cost, aesthetics and historical implications of some of the renovations, particularly alterations to iconic spaces such as the Rose Garden and the planned ballroom project. Supporters, meanwhile, argue the upgrades modernize the White House and address long-standing logistical needs.
With White House officials saying the administration has received additional offers from private citizens and companies interested in contributing to improvement projects, further changes to the grounds could be announced as Trump's broader vision for the presidential campus continues to take shape.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Gray R. Thomas
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