Trump Proclaims Oval Office National Monument
The president signed a document on Thursday to restrict future changes to the room, two days after Republicans lost control of Congress.
By Jisoo Kim ·
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday designating the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room as a national monument. The move aims to limit the ability of future presidents to make major physical changes to those spaces.
The proclamation requires Congress to approve any significant modifications to the two rooms. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the designation means the rooms will not be "taken down, destroyed, touched or anything else." He expressed hope that legislators would be wise enough to reject such changes.
The White House has held U.S. National Historic Landmark status since 1960. In the new document, Trump wrote that the Oval Office deserves specific recognition as a historic structure of national importance. The decree allows future presidents to redecorate or select new furnishings. However, they may not substantially impair the historic structure or architectural character of the monument.
Trump made these remarks two days after Republicans suffered major losses in the midterm elections. Democrats have secured control of Congress. The president had already addressed the media the previous day at the construction site for the new White House ballroom.
At that earlier event, Trump stated that the White House is the ultimate symbol of America and must remain pristine. He noted it would be appropriate to have reporters present at the site. The ballroom project involves demolishing the historic East Wing, a move that has drawn criticism from preservation groups.
Trump also highlighted his renovation of the Oval Office during his return to office last year, which involved extensive use of gold decor. During the Thursday briefing, he referenced his achievements in the room while acknowledging there had been some mistakes. He did not elaborate on those errors.
When asked about congressional priorities for the remaining two months of Republican majority, Trump shifted focus to his own record. He described the past two years as tremendous and claimed no president had done more work on the border or the stock market. His final campaign speech on Monday also focused heavily on renovation projects, including the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
