Trump declares Oval Office a national monument
The president signed a proclamation to freeze the room's current gold-plated design, a move made days after Democrats gained control of Congress.
By Paula Delgado ·
President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation on Thursday to designate the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room as national monuments. The document aims to prevent future administrations from altering the current interior designs of those two West Wing spaces. Trump stated that the measure will preserve the rooms for generations to come. He described the action as a way to create landmarks that will endure.
The president made the announcement from behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. He told reporters gathered in the room that the proclamation would stop others from modifying the space. Trump said he did not want the areas to be destroyed or rebuilt by future leaders. He expressed concern that subsequent presidents might decide to change the layout or materials for aesthetic reasons.
Trump warned that the proclamation would prevent future occupants from removing walls or changing the shape of the rooms. He told the press that if anyone attempted to knock down walls, he intended to return to Washington to stop the work. The president emphasized that he wanted the spaces left exactly as they are today. He rejected the idea of upgrading features with new glass or other modern materials.
The decision follows a series of major renovation projects undertaken by the Trump administration at the White House. These efforts include the demolition of the East Wing to construct a new ballroom with a projected cost of $600 million. The administration has also built a permanent granite helipad on the South Lawn. Trump defended these changes by pointing to years of deterioration in the building's exterior. He cited cracked windows, damaged stonework, and broken decorative features as reasons for the repairs.
A red baseball cap with the word Veto printed on it sat on the desk next to where Trump signed the proclamation. The item served as a visual reminder of his stance against the legislative agenda of the incoming Congress. Democrats recently secured control of both chambers of Congress following midterm elections. They made gains in states previously won by Trump, including Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, and Iowa. Campaigns in those states focused on affordability and corruption.
Criticism of the Oval Office's opulent redesign has come from former President Barack Obama. Obama recently described the room's appearance with gold detailing as resembling a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein. The White House responded to the comment with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dining at a Cheesecake Factory. The exchange highlighted the public scrutiny surrounding the administration's aesthetic choices for the executive mansion.
Ahead of the midterm elections, Trump held a press conference to discuss the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. He blamed former President Joe Biden for algae growth in the water, noting that the cleanup process was difficult. The $14 million project had faced delays before the election. Trump described the water as having been covered in dirt and filth for years prior to the restoration work.
Two days after the election results indicated historic losses for the Republican Party, Trump led a media tour of the White House Ballroom construction site. He described the ongoing construction as a miracle. The visit occurred while the scale of the party's defeat in the midterm elections became clear to the public. The new Democratic-controlled Congress will take office next year, setting the stage for legislative conflicts.
