Trump Signs Proclamation To Freeze Oval Office Design Changes
The new order requires congressional approval for major modifications, a move announced immediately after Republican midterm losses.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday that designates the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as a national monument. The order stipulates that any major modifications to these spaces will now require approval from Congress.
This action took place on the first day following the midterm elections, in which Trump’s party lost key seats. While signing the document at the Resolute Desk, Trump wore a red baseball cap with the word “VETO” on the front. He used the subsequent press conference to explain the new rules governing the White House interiors.
Trump stated that the proclamation prevents future leaders from altering the room’s structure. “It will not be allowed to be touched by anybody, destroyed, ripped down by stupid people, in order to build something in a slightly different shape,” he said. “We like the Oval Office, and it’s a symbol, like the White House itself.”
The president has overseen several design updates since returning to office. These changes include adding portraits, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and numerous golden accents to the Oval Office walls. Trump suggested that future presidents might attempt to reverse these aesthetic choices without providing specific details on the potential threats.
Legal experts note that presidential proclamations can be reversed by subsequent administrations. Trump has previously used this mechanism to roll back designations of other national monuments. He also acknowledged that his current renovation projects have faced lawsuits alleging they proceeded without necessary approvals.
This announcement was the third instance this week that Trump focused on his Washington projects. On Wednesday, he signed the final beam for the new ballroom construction. On Monday, he spoke about his renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Each event occurred shortly after the Republican defeats in the Tuesday elections.
Democrats have begun preparing for increased scrutiny of the administration’s spending. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who leads the Homeland Security Committee’s investigation subcommittee, sent letters to donors of the ballroom project on Thursday. The letters demand financial information or threaten “alternative measures to obtain compliance.”
