Trump Signs Order Declaring Oval Office a National Monument

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday declaring the Oval Office, the Outer Oval Office, and the Cabinet Room national monuments and federal landmarks, stating that the designation is intended to prevent future presidents from making structural modifications to the West Wing.

Speaking to reporters from behind the Resolute Desk, Trump said the measure would ensure the historic executive spaces remain intact for future generations:

"We're making it a national monument, and 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."

The text of the document clarifies that the national monument status does not restrict future commanders-in-chief from redecorating or altering temporary furnishings, stating it does not "restrict the President's authority to redecorate the monument, select furnishings, or make ordinary operational and security modifications that do not substantially impair the monument's historic structure or architectural character".

When asked by reporters whether future leaders could remove his added gold decorative accents, Trump said:

“They can do anything they want as long as they do it carefully."

The White House complex is already recognized as a National Historic Landmark. However, the new executive action states that "nonetheless, the Oval Office merits specific recognition and protective management as a discrete historic structure of national significance."

Trump noted that formalizing the national monument protections for the West Wing spaces would require congressional approval:

"So if they want to say 'let's not have Oval anymore, let's make it square,' what happens is they have to go back to Congress, and hopefully the Congress... will be smart enough not to let that happen."

The announcement came two days after midterm elections in which Democrats secured majorities in both chambers of Congress. During the signing ceremony, a red hat displaying the word "VETO" sat on the president's desk, signaling his intent to counter incoming congressional opposition.

The signing marked the third public event this week where Trump highlighted architectural and infrastructure initiatives:

• Ballroom Construction: On Wednesday, Trump hosted a press briefing at the site of the former East Wing, which was dismantled to construct a new White House ballroom.
• Reflecting Pool: On Monday, Trump held a public event outlining updates to the resurfaced Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
• Other Cultural Projects: Since taking office in 2025, the administration has proposed a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery alongside structural changes to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Legal and preservation experts noted that executive actions designating or altering national monuments remain subject to legal review and potential action by future administrations.

Greg Werkheiser, an attorney at Cultural Heritage Partners specializing in historic preservation, observed that routine interior changes fall under standard presidential discretion:

"As long as they're not damaging the permanent art and architecture, they can generally do whatever they want."

Werkheiser characterized the executive action as "hypocrisy", pointing to simultaneous legal challenges over larger construction projects across Washington:

"On the one hand he's talking about the importance of preserving the Oval Office - which is legally meaningless because he can't do it - and on the other hand he is absolutely taking an axe to the law that allows us to preserve other historic sites."

Under existing federal law, the National Park Service will be charged with overseeing the designated spaces to preserve their architectural character and connection to the presidency.