Trump Signs Order to Protect Oval Office Renovations
The executive order requires approval before major changes to the White House’s executive suite, a move critics say contradicts midterm election results.
By Natalie Cooper ·
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday designating the Oval Office as a national monument. The action came two days after midterm elections delivered a mandate for lower prices and an end to the war on Iran.
The proclamation requires a specific process before any future administration can substantially alter or demolish the Oval Office, the Outer Oval Office, and the Cabinet Room. It does not restrict changes to decor or furnishings. The order aims to prevent a future president from removing the gold surfaces Trump installed during his renovations.
Trump said he wants to stop “stupid people” from messing with the room. “If anybody ever decides to come and start knocking down walls, you call me wherever I may be,” he said. “And I’ll come back here and I’ll make sure it never happens.”
Critics noted that the White House is already a national historic landmark. They pointed out that this status did not stop Trump from demolishing the East Wing. The new order is easily revocable by a future president with a single signature.
The announcement drew sharp criticism on social media after voters rejected Trump’s agenda. Many observers argued the focus on redecorating ignored the priority of lowering consumer prices. Trump has spent time since returning to office on interior design projects, including personally supergluing gold leaf into place.
Former President Barack Obama previously compared the gold-heavy aesthetic to a Cheesecake Factory opened by Saddam Hussein. The remark became a frequent topic in campaign debates. The new monument status adds a layer of protection to the space that previously only had historic landmark designations.
