Trump signs order preventing future presidents from changing Oval Office

Former US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at preventing future presidents from altering the White House's Oval Office. The project, which has already seen Trump add numerous gold features to the presidential office, will now be declared a national monument, according to Trump. This order also ensures that the Oval Office and surrounding areas cannot be destroyed or significantly altered without congressional approval.

The executive order comes after Trump demolished the entire White House East Wing, a project that faced legal challenges. Construction is now underway on a new ballroom in the space, with the Oval Office to be maintained by the National Park Service to protect its historical character and association with the presidency. Despite the order, the current Oval Office has existed since the 1930s, with its design initially conceived by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Experts argue that the order is legally significant, as it declares the Oval Office a discrete historic structure of national significance. However, critics argue that the order is hypocritical, as Trump has undertaken numerous other beautification projects across Washington without regard for preservation laws.