John Eikatro, the Furniture Craftsman from Florida
Donald Trump, the U.S. president who has been obsessed with gold, is decorating the White House entirely in gold tones to resemble his Florida Mar-a-Lago residence.
On the 17th, Yonhap News quoted the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporting that President Trump even invited experts to add gold decorations throughout the White House. The expert, known as Trump’s 'Goldman,' is John Eikatro, a furniture craftsman from Florida, who took charge of the White House interior renovation.
He reportedly arrived at the White House on the presidential plane and transformed the Oval Office according to Trump’s tastes, including gilding the fireplace mantel and wall decorations. The golden cherub statue that adorned the Mar-a-Lago residence was also moved and installed in the White House.
Additionally, golden decorations were added to the dining table next to the Oval Office, and seven golden vases and jars were placed on the fireplace mantel. It was also reported that a golden Trump crest was affixed above the doorway leading from the White House hallway.
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt described the renovation as "a golden office for a golden era." President Trump is said to be quite satisfied with the results.
In an interview with Fox News last month, President Trump mentioned the golden decorations in the Oval Office, saying, "Gold paint can’t imitate real gold," and added, "So we use real gold."
The WSJ also reported that President Trump instructed to add a reflective gold border to his official portrait, which was originally printed with a white frame, because he wanted his portrait to sparkle in gold. To accomplish this, the Government Publishing Office had to acquire metallic ink and special printing equipment, which caused delays in the portrait printing process.
President Trump’s near-obsessive love for gold is well known. His Mar-a-Lago residence, designed by architect Joseph Urban, a former opera stage designer, features almost all ceilings, walls, frames, and desks in gold. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gifted Trump a "golden pager," and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gave him a golden golf club, reflecting Trump’s taste.
Meanwhile, criticism has also been raised regarding the White House decoration changes. Kate Anderson Brower, an author who wrote a book about the White House, said, "To change the interior of official White House spaces such as the Oval Office, approval from the White House curator is required," adding, "The White House is the people's house, not the home of a particular president."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
