Trump’s Oval Office Makeover: From Presidential Powerhouse to Golden Spectacle
In just seven whirlwind months, Donald Trump’s administration has stamped an unmatched mark on America. From rewriting free trade rules to shaking up due process norms and even challenging scientific orthodoxy, not a single corner of the nation has been left untouched—including the beating heart of power itself, the Oval Office.
Pulling from his past as a real estate tycoon and hotel mogul, Trump wasted no time adding what he calls his signature “Trump touches” to the White House’s most iconic room. And let’s just say—the results have sparked fiery debate. Admirers hail it as the start of America’s golden age, while critics mock it as resembling a pro wrestler’s dressing room.
The Gold Rush Begins
During a March tour of the Oval Office with Fox News, Trump openly defended his flashy upgrades. Gesturing at the new gold details, he quipped that the room needed “a little life” while admitting how tricky it is to make gold paint shine like real gold.
But difficulty didn’t stop him. Over the next few months, the “goldening” of the Oval Office escalated—gold trimming on ceilings, door frames, the fireplace, and even the sculpted cherubim embedded in the woodwork. Gold trophies, vases, and coasters stamped with Trump’s name soon littered the mantlepiece.
A White House spokesperson insisted that the glittering upgrades—described as “the highest quality” gold—were paid for out of Trump’s own pocket.
Walls That Talk
Trump didn’t stop at gold. He expanded the artwork collection too. Nearly 20 portraits of past presidents now cover the walls, compared to just six under Joe Biden and only two under Barack Obama. The décor also features Trump family photos, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and even the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, gifted by the organization’s president.
Every detail, aides confirm, has been personally directed by Trump—with help from his trusted “gold guy,” John Icart, a 70-year-old cabinet maker flown in on Air Force One to replicate the gilded magic he once crafted at Mar-a-Lago.
Praise and Backlash
Supporters, like White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, have dubbed it a “golden office for a golden age.” But not everyone is impressed. Musician Jack White blasted the room as “vulgar” and “gaudy,” while journalist Jon Keegan mocked the decorative medallions as resembling cheap Alibaba foam veneers.
However, not all the pieces are knockoffs. Some gold artefacts come directly from the White House’s own historic collection, including a 19th-century French compotier, gilded urns gifted to James Monroe, and silverware from the Eisenhower era.
Inspired by Versailles
Trump has long admired the palace of Versailles, even modelling the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago after it. His Oval Office, dripping in gold and grandeur, reflects that obsession. Yet in doing so, he follows a long tradition: every president reshapes the Oval Office to mirror their vision. What sets Trump apart is how boldly he transported the aesthetics of his private empire into the seat of American power.
From Obama’s Rug to Trump’s Gold
The contrast with his predecessor could not be starker. In his final year, Barack Obama said the most meaningful item in the Oval Office was his handmade rug, bordered with quotes from Lincoln, Kennedy, Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King Jr. His favorite? King’s timeless reminder: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
But when Trump moved in, that symbolic rug was swiftly rolled out—replaced with a golden-tinged carpet that matched his gilded vision of power.
Description:
"In just seven months, Donald Trump transformed the Oval Office with bold gold décor, portraits, and personal touches. Supporters call it America’s “golden age,” while critics slam it as vulgar and gaudy. Discover the story behind the gilded transformation that has everyone talking."