Trump makes Oval Office a national monument, but future presidents can still redecorate

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump designated the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room as a national monument, according to the Associated Press. This move came shortly after the Republicans' heavy losses in the midterm elections on November 3. The proclamation, Trump's first official act since the election, aims to protect the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as a discrete historic structure of national significance and in the public interest.

Despite the proclamation, Trump clarified that future presidents would still possess the authority to redecorate and make ordinary operational and security changes to the rooms, provided these alterations do not substantially impair the historic structure or architectural character. The proclamation does not prohibit the president from selecting furnishings or making minor operational and security changes.

However, this decision has sparked debate. Former president Barack Obama expressed his concern that the Oval Office now resembles a lavish restroom, adorned with gold accents, reminiscent of a Cheesecake Factory. Trump himself has reversed national monument designations made by his predecessors, demonstrating the potential for future presidents to alter the designations.

The Oval Office, the working office of the U.S. President, and the Cabinet Room, where the U.S. Cabinet convenes, are significant historic structures. The proclamation states that preserving these rooms as a national monument is crucial to the public interest.

Trump's decision comes amid mounting pressure over the midterm elections' outcome, which saw the Democrats projected to gain control of both the House and Senate. The historic Democratic win was seen as a clear message from the American public, credited to Democratic candidates who won in areas once considered long shots.