US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring the White House Oval Office a national monument in a move he says will prevent future presidents from destroying or substantially altering the historic presidential space.
Trump signed the order on Thursday, November 5, arguing that the office, which has undergone significant renovations during his second term, should be protected because of its historical significance and national symbolism.
“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,” Trump told reporters.
The executive order designates the Oval Office and some of its surrounding rooms as a national monument, directing the National Park Service to maintain the space in a manner that protects its historic character, architectural integrity and association with the presidency.
However, the order does not completely prohibit future presidents from making changes, as it preserves the president’s authority to redecorate, select furnishings and undertake routine operational and security modifications, provided they do not substantially damage the office’s historic structure or architectural character.
“We like the Oval Office, and it’s a symbol, like the White House itself. It’s a symbol of our country and the greatness of our country,” Trump said, claiming that visiting world leaders had praised his decorative changes.
Trump’s decision comes after he introduced extensive modifications to the Oval Office, including gold decorations, a large gold plaque bearing the words ‘Oval Office’ and other cosmetic changes.
He has also undertaken major renovation projects at the White House, most notably the demolition of the entire East Wing to pave the way for a new ballroom, a project that has attracted legal challenges.
The president has defended the renovations, arguing that parts of the White House were in poor condition and required extensive repairs, including damaged windows, cracked walls and broken stonework.
However, the executive order has drawn criticism from historic preservation experts, who question whether a president can legally impose lasting restrictions on the authority of future administrations.
Greg Werkheiser of Cultural Heritage Partners, a law firm specialising in historic preservation, described the move as hypocritical, arguing that Trump’s efforts to protect the Oval Office contradict his other redevelopment projects across Washington.
Werkheiser also noted that presidents generally have discretion over furniture and decorations, provided they do not damage permanent artwork or architectural features.
The Oval Office, in its current form, dates back to the early 1930s, following its establishment under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Trump’s renovations have also attracted political criticism, with former President Barack Obama previously mocking the extensive gold decorations, saying they had left the White House looking like “Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.”
Despite Trump’s claims that the executive order will prevent future presidents from destroying the office, questions remain over its legal ability to bind his successors, particularly given the existing authority presidents have to make changes to the White House.
