Trump signs order preventing future presidents from changing Oval Office

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that aims to prevent future presidents from making certain alterations to the White House Oval Office. During his second term, Trump has notably added an abundance of gold elements to the presidential office. He declared the Oval Office, along with some adjacent rooms, to be a national monument and stated that it would not be permitted to be altered or destroyed for any reason.

This order falls under the existing power of presidents to make minor changes, but large projects require congressional approval. The Oval Office has been present since the early 1930s, after its conception by President Franklin D Roosevelt. Legal experts argue that the order is legally meaningless due to the fact that presidents can still make temporary alterations without violating the law.

Critics have pointed out Trump's disregard for the preservation of other historic sites in Washington and have called the order hypocritical.