Filled with Gold Ornaments Brought from Private Residence
Even the TV Remote Decorated with Gold Leaf
"Trump Looks More Like a King Than a President"
Donald Trump, the U.S. President known for his flamboyant taste, has been adorning the White House in gold since his inauguration. The shelves in the Oval Office and the space above the fireplace have been filled with lavish golden decorations and gilded ornaments, and even the TV remote control has been replaced with one decorated in gold leaf.
On the 16th (local time), CNN reported that the number of paintings hanging on the walls of the Oval Office, the president's working office in the White House, has more than tripled in the eight weeks since President Trump's inauguration. Known for his somewhat ostentatious personality, Trump is famous for decorating his residence and personal office spaces in a highly decorative style, almost like a showroom. According to CNN, while former President Joe Biden had six portraits in the office, President Trump has 20.
A large oil portrait of former President Ronald Reagan was newly hung to the left behind the desk, and a new portrait of the first president, George Washington, took its place above the fireplace. Additionally, the walls of the office are densely covered with new portraits of past presidents personally selected by President Trump, including Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Trump reportedly spent considerable time flipping through catalogs to select paintings from the federal government's collection of former presidents' portraits to fill the Oval Office. CNN noted that "(the Oval Office walls) have become so crowded that the paintings compete for space," adding that "the Oval Office has transformed more into a gallery showroom."
The walls of the White House Oval Office are filled with portraits of past U.S. presidents. Photo by AFP, Yonhap News.
It’s not just the paintings. Various golden items fill every corner of the office. A Rococo-style ornate mirror hangs on the door, and a golden eagle ornament nests on the side table. Golden statues and angel figures brought from Trump’s residence at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida also occupy the White House master bedroom alongside President Trump. It is even reported that the TV remote control has been replaced with one decorated in gold leaf.
Trump’s White House is not only transforming the Oval Office but also preparing for a major makeover of outdoor spaces such as the Rose Garden. The Rose Garden, which past presidents have used for major announcements and press conferences, is expected to be redesigned in the Mar-a-Lago style. Construction to remove part of the lawn and convert the area into a patio-style space with lounge chairs is scheduled to begin within a few weeks.
Gold decoration with the word 'Trump' on the White House Oval Office table. Photo by AFP=Yonhap News
There is also talk of creating a ballroom in the South Lawn, the grassy garden area on the south side of the White House grounds, for state dinners and banquets. President Trump reportedly wants to build this ballroom in a grand style inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, similar to his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Having pledged to fund the South Lawn ballroom out of his own pocket, President Trump is seriously considering several blueprints, but whether it will actually be realized remains uncertain. If a decision is made to undertake extensive renovations of the exterior of the White House grounds, a major historical site in the U.S., considerable controversy is expected. A former White House official who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations pointed out, "Every president has the right to decorate their office, but President Trump's style is less presidential and more kingly."
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