officials attempted a delicate balance between keeping people safe and respecting the right to protest,
suggesting that neither custom nor civic expression had to be completely sidelined.
Still, the choice underscores how vulnerable even the most cherished traditions have become in an era of deep division.
The South Lawn, the Rose Garden, and the meandering walkways of the “people’s house”
will still open, offering that rare chance to wander through living history.
But this time, every flower and pathway will carry
a quiet reminder that democracy isn’t confined to official chambers —
it pushes against the gates themselves, reshaping even the softest spring days.
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