Trump Proclaims Oval Office National Monument

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday to designate the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room as a national monument. This action was his first official move following his party's defeat in the midterm elections held on Tuesday.

The new status does not freeze the room's current appearance. The proclamation explicitly states that the president retains the authority to redecorate the space, choose new furnishings, and make standard security or operational adjustments. These changes must not substantially impair the historic structure or architectural character of the rooms.

The document orders the secretary of the interior to manage the designated monument. It requires officials to document and review alternatives before taking any action that would significantly alter or demolish the space. Trump stated separately that major changes would require review by Congress, although that specific requirement is not written into the text of the proclamation.

Trump described the move as a way to protect the room from being destroyed or reshaped by future leaders. He said the Oval Office is a symbol similar to the White House itself. He noted that if future leaders wanted to change the shape of the room, they would have to go back to Congress. He added that he hoped members of Congress would be smart enough to prevent such changes.

The president has already reversed national monument designations made by his predecessors. He also demolished the East Wing of the White House to make room for a new ballroom project. On Wednesday, he signed the final beam for that construction. On Monday, he spoke about his renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

A red baseball cap with the word VETO on the front sat on the Resolute Desk while Trump signed the document. The cap served as a visual reference to the shifting balance of power in Congress. Since returning to the White House, Trump has overseen numerous design changes to various rooms, including the addition of gold accents and portraits in the Oval Office.

Democrats are preparing to scrutinize the president's projects. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who leads a subcommittee on investigations, sent letters on Thursday to donors for the White House ballroom. He demanded information from them or faced alternative measures to obtain compliance. Trump said he would return if anyone tried to knock down walls in the future.