US President Donald Trump, since assuming office has introduced a series of changes to the White House, reshaping a key symbol of his administration, the Oval Office. The historic space, once defined by a minimalist aesthetic, now featured lavish gold accents, grand portraits, and meticulously selected memorabilia.
The transformation is evident in the tripling of paintings on the walls, shelves and surfaces overflowing with statues, flags, and ornaments, and gold accents dispersed throughout the room. Gilded Rococo mirrors hanging on the doors, gold eagles on side tables, and delicate gold cherubs, shipped directly from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate placed above the doorways.
Even the television remote control in a nearby room is wrapped in gilt. Sources familiar with his plans told CNN that Trump had even considered installing a chandelier in the Oval Office, though that idea now appears unlikely.
The Oval Office now resembles an elaborate gallery, filled with portraits of American statesmen. Trump has personally selected close to 20 paintings, significantly more than Joe Biden’s six or Barack Obama’s two. A prominent oil portrait of Ronald Reagan now hangs to Trump’s left, while a large Charles Willson Peale painting of George Washington from 1776 has replaced the smaller version that previously sat above the fireplace. Other figures featured in the tightly packed display include Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Franklin D Roosevelt, and James Polk.
For Trump, the Oval Office has always been more than just a workspace. His previous office in Trump Tower was similarly decorated, packed with collectibles, framed photographs, and magazine covers. His approach to the White House remains the same—everything added to the room is done at his direction.
Since his return, Trump has used the Oval Office as a setting for major moments of his presidency. He has held tense meetings there, including a notably hostile encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and it has served as the venue for Cabinet secretary swear-ins and his near-daily interactions with the press.
“Oh, what a great feeling,” Trump said from behind the Resolute Desk on Inauguration Day, when asked how it felt to be back. “One of the better feelings I’ve ever had.”
His desk is carefully arranged, with photographs, including one of his mother.
Trump’s modifications have drawn both admiration and criticism. One former White House official, who has served under both Republican and Democratic administrations, told CNN, “Every president has a right to decorate the Oval Office,” adding, But his décor is so weirdly un-presidential, it’s more king-like.”
Among the changes, Trump has removed the traditional tufts of Swedish ivy above the fireplace plants that trace their lineage to a gift from John F Kennedy’s administration. In their place now stand seven meticulously arranged gold artifacts flanking a towering empire-style centerpiece. Simple wooden side tables have been replaced with marble-topped consoles supported by gilded eagles, which hold bronze busts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Winston Churchill.
Even the iconic Resolute Desk, gifted by Queen Victoria and crafted from the timbers of a 19th-century Arctic exploration ship, has been sent off for refurbishment. A temporary desk now sits in its place, alongside a placard marking the “Gulf of America,” Trump’s self-coined rebranding of a well-known body of water. Gold cups line the windows and walls, reinforcing the room’s unmistakable grandeur.
Trump’s overhaul of the White House is far from complete. His first term saw extensive renovations to the West Wing, including a $1.75 million refurbishment carried out while he vacationed at his Bedminster golf club.
Even now, additional pieces of decor and memorabilia are being added. A golden replica of the FIFA World Cup Trophy, symbolising his interest in the 2026 tournament set to be held in North America, now sits on a table behind his desk.
The redecoration efforts extend beyond the Oval Office. Trump has reviewed plans to renovate the Rose Garden, intending to pave over the grass and create a patio-style seating area reminiscent of his South Florida estate. On the South Lawn, Trump hopes to construct a new ballroom for state dinners, modelled after the one at Mar-a-Lago, which itself was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. He has examined multiple blueprints, enthusiastically showing them off to visitors and making adjustments. Though he has pledged to fund the construction himself, an offer he had previously made during Barack Obama’s presidency, it remains unclear whether the project will proceed on the historic grounds.
“It keeps my real-estate juices flowing,” Trump told The Spectator recently. “But it’ll be beautiful.”
Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Dan Scavino, occasionally shares updates on these changes, offering glimpses into the evolving space. And while the president continues to make additions and adjustments, one thing is clear—the White House, under Donald Trump, is becoming an even greater reflection of his distinct and opulent style.
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