President Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday designating the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as national monuments, with the stated goal of preventing future administrations from modifying the spaces. Speaking from behind the Resolute Desk in the gold-covered Oval Office, Trump told reporters the measure would ensure the West Wing rooms would not be altered or demolished by subsequent leaders. He indicated the proclamation would restrict even minor changes, stating that future presidents would need his permission for modifications like upgrading glass fixtures.
The proclamation comes as Trump has undertaken extensive renovation projects throughout the White House complex since returning to office. These efforts include the demolition of the East Wing to construct a $600 million ballroom and the building of a permanent granite helipad on the South Lawn. Trump defended the broader renovation work by pointing to deterioration of the building’s exterior, including cracked windows, damaged stonework, and broken decorative features, which he said required professional restoration.
The president’s redesign of the Oval Office, characterized by extensive gold-plating, has drawn public criticism. Former President Barack Obama recently made a joke comparing the appearance to “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory,” prompting a coordinated response from the White House in which Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dined at a Cheesecake Factory location.
The proclamation was signed during a period following significant losses for Trump’s party in the recent midterm elections. Democrats made gains in traditionally Republican states including Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, and Iowa, and secured control of Congress. A red baseball cap emblazoned with the word “Veto” sat on the desk during the signing, signaling Trump’s intent to block legislative priorities from the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress.
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