Updated 12m ago · Politics
Trump Moves to Make Oval Office Makeover Permanent
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Thursday naming the Oval Office and Cabinet Room national landmarks. He said it would protect his redesigns from future changes.
- Trump has added portraits, gold accents and a Declaration of Independence copy.
- Gold cherubs from Mar-a-Lago now sit above the Oval Office doorways.
- 2 days earlier, Democrats won control of Congress in the midterms.
- 3rd straight day Trump focused on his Washington building projects.
Why it matters: What the order actually protects is in dispute. Trump said major structural changes would need congressional approval, but successors could remove his decor.
- The White House already has National Historic Landmark status.
- Trump said the Secret Service once proposed rebuilding the Oval Office.
How 40 sources split on this story
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40 sources · 50 articles · 38% Left coverage
Where they split: Outlets differ on whether the order preserves Trump's gilded decor or only the rooms' structure.
Center coverage, 13 sources: The center reports the signing alongside the midterm results and Trump's week of building-project events.
PBS NewsHour20hTrump signs proclamation he says will prevent future changes to Oval Office and Cabinet RoomNewsweek1hHow Trump Transformed the Oval Office as He Declares it a National MonumentThe Hill19hTrump signs proclamation making Oval Office, Cabinet Room national monumentAssociated Press20hTrump signs proclamation he says will prevent future changes to the Oval Office and Cabinet RoomBBC News16hTrump signs order to prevent future presidents from changing Oval OfficeCTV News4hTrump signs proclamation he says will prevent future changes to the Oval Office and Cabinet RoomKXAN Austin18hTrump signs proclamation he says will prevent future changes to the Oval Office and Cabinet RoomNOTUS19hTrump Moves to Prevent West Wing Changes in First Post-Midterms Executive Action - The Washington SunPennLive15hTrump makes the Oval Office a national monument. But future presidents can still redecorateScripps News16hTrump makes the Oval Office a national monument. But future presidents can still redecorateThe National Desk4hOval Office designated a national monument under Trump proclamationUSA Today19hTrump takes execution action to preserve his changes to Oval OfficeYahoo News20hTrump makes the Oval Office a national monument. But future presidents can still redecorate
Left coverage, 15 sources: The left sees a president focused on gilded pet projects right after his party's midterm defeat.
CNN19hTrump says he’s declaring Oval Office and Cabinet Room national landmarks to prevent future changesThe Boston Globe19hTrump signs proclamation he says will prevent changes to Oval OfficeRaw Story17hTrump mocked for shielding his ‘gold-plated midlife crisis’ with post-election orderABC News17hTrump moves to make Oval Office a national monument aiming to prevent future major changesAl Jazeera13hTrump issues proclamation declaring Oval Office national monumentAlterNet19hTrump's new executive order takes his obsession to 'weird' new levelsCBS News13hTrump signs proclamation declaring Oval Office a national monumentGeorgia Recorder18hStill focused on D.C. projects, Trump signs order preserving Oval OfficeLos Angeles Times19hTrump signs proclamation he says will prevent future changes to the Oval Office and Cabinet RoomNBC News16hTrump focuses on White House decor for second straight day in post-midterm remarksPolitical Wire19hTrump Declares Oval Office a National LandmarkPolitico19hTrump’s first post-election executive action: Preserving his Oval Office changesThe Guardian17hTrump signs proclamation to try to prevent changes to gold-covered Oval OfficeThe Independent20hTrump tries to prevent anyone from changing his gold-covered Oval Office by declaring it a landmarkThe New York Times17hTrump Moves to Make Oval Office a National Monument
Right coverage, 12 sources: The right frames it as Trump locking in his makeover while noting limits on what the order covers.
New York Post19hTrump signs EO to keep Oval Office from becoming a square — but fate of prez's gilded remodel up in the airJust the News2dWatch Live: Trump signs proclamation at the White HouseOutKick17hTrump signs proclamation to prevent changes to Oval Office, other White House roomsThe Epoch Times2dTrump Proclaims Oval Office, Cabinet Room as National MonumentsThe Gateway Pundit15hTrump Responds to Hillary Clinton’s Attacks on White House Renovations, Slams Obama: ” I Don’t Like Her House Either. I Know Her House Very Well… Obama Doesn’t Know About Dirt and Filth” (VIDEO) * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan ConradsonNewsmax18hTrump Proclamation Protects Oval Office, Cabinet RoomNTD15hTrump Proclaims Oval Office, Cabinet Room as National MonumentsRSBNetwork5hPresident Trump designates Oval Office as national monument under Antiquities ActThe Washington Times19hTrump declares Oval Office a National Monument to protect renovationsTownhall1dTrump Turns Oval Office Into a National LandmarkWashington Examiner3hTrump signs proclamation to declare Oval Office a ‘national monument’ZeroHedge2hTrump Proclaims Oval Office, Cabinet Room As National Monuments
What’s next: Trump said the document will go to Congress to be ratified. He said it would then be legally binding.
- CNN said it asked the White House for details on the document.
- What legal protection does the proclamation add beyond existing landmark status?
- Will a Democratic-controlled Congress ratify it?
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