Inside Trump’s Golden Oval Office: A Glitzy Makeover Fit For A King

Trump's Bold Redesign of the Oval Office Reflects His Signature Style

Since returning to office nearly eight weeks ago, President Donald Trump has been busy not only reshaping the federal government but also transforming the iconic Oval Office into a reflection of his opulent taste. The room now glitters with gold accents, packed with art, memorabilia, and personal touches that make it feel more like a Trump property than the traditional seat of American power.

A Touch of Gold Everywhere

Trump has tripled the number of paintings on the walls and filled shelves and surfaces with flags, statues, and ornaments. True to his well-known style, gold is everywhere: gilded Rococo mirrors on the doors, gold eagles on side tables, gold vermeil figurines on the mantle, and even diminutive gold cherubs imported from Mar-a-Lago perched above the doorways. Even the remote control for the television is wrapped in gold leaf.

According to insiders, Trump even considered installing a chandelier in the Oval Office — though that idea seems to have been shelved for now.

A Mar-a-Lago-Inspired Rose Garden and Ballroom

Trump’s influence is also extending beyond the Oval Office. Plans are underway to overhaul the historic Rose Garden, originally designed by First Lady Ellen Wilson, into a patio-style seating area similar to his setup at Mar-a-Lago. Trump personally reviewed the designs with White House curators and has even discussed his vision with visiting foreign dignitaries during walks along the South Portico.

On the South Lawn, Trump hopes to build a new ballroom modeled after the one at Mar-a-Lago, which itself was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Multiple blueprints have already been reviewed, but it remains unclear whether the project will proceed. Trump insists he’ll fund the construction himself — just as he offered to do during the Obama administration.

A Presidential Gallery of Heroes

The Oval Office now resembles a packed art gallery. Trump has personally selected nearly 20 paintings of presidents and statesmen he admires, including Ronald Reagan, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Andrew Jackson. A large oil portrait of Reagan now hangs to Trump’s left, while a grand portrait of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale replaces the smaller painting that once occupied the fireplace.

Trump favors darker frames, consistent with the decor of his other properties. By comparison, Joe Biden had six portraits on display, while Barack Obama limited himself to just two — Abraham Lincoln and George Washington — alongside modern paintings by Edward Hopper.

An Office Fit for a King

While many presidents have viewed the White House as a restrictive bubble, Trump embraces its grandeur. He spends most of his day in the Oval Office and adjacent dining rooms rather than working from the Roosevelt or Cabinet Rooms, as some predecessors preferred.

Trump’s obsession with detail extends to the smallest of items. A golden replica of the FIFA World Cup Trophy sits on the table behind his desk. A gold paperweight engraved with the presidential seal and the word “TRUMP” serves as both a decoration and, occasionally, a coaster for guests’ drinks.

He’s even renamed a body of water as the "Gulf of America," with a plaque bearing the new name proudly displayed on an easel next to the Resolute Desk — which is currently off for refurbishment.

A Personal Touch

Photographs of Trump’s family, including a framed picture of his mother, sit on the table behind his desk. Statues of Martin Luther King Jr. and Winston Churchill are perched on marble-topped consoles supported by gilded eagles. Seven gold artifacts now sit in place of the iconic Swedish ivy gifted to John F. Kennedy.

A Bold New Vision for the White House

Trump’s redesign has drawn mixed reactions. While some admire his attention to detail and willingness to make the space his own, others criticize the decor as “un-presidential” and more suited to royalty than a democratic leader.

But for Trump, the makeover reflects his identity and vision for the presidency. "It keeps my real-estate juices flowing," he told The Spectator. "But it’ll be beautiful."

And with Trump at the helm, it seems the White House is on its way to becoming a palace in its own right.