Trump Signs Proclamation Designating Oval Office and Cabinet Room as National Monument
The new order requires Congressional approval for major modifications to the two historic rooms, a move Trump made while Republicans still hold a congressional majority for two months.
By Lauren Foster ·
President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday declaring the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room a national monument. The move seeks to freeze the physical structure of the two rooms, requiring future presidents to obtain approval from Congress before making any major modifications.
The signing took place a day after Republicans suffered heavy losses in the midterm elections. In the two days since the vote, Trump has addressed the press twice. Both speeches centered on White House renovations and the specific rooms within the executive mansion.
“We’re going to be declaring it a national monument, and we’re going to send it over to Congress to have it ratified,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He added that the rooms would not be “taken down, destroyed, touched or anything else.” The proclamation notes that the White House has been a U.S. National Historic Landmark since 1960.
The new decree allows future administrations to redecorate the Oval Office and select new furnishings. It also permits ordinary operational and security modifications, provided these changes do not substantially impair the historic structure or architectural character of the monument.
The ballroom project, which Trump discussed during a media visit Wednesday at the construction site, has drawn criticism from preservation groups. That project involves demolishing the historic East Wing. The Oval Office, by contrast, typically undergoes cosmetic updates with each new administration. Trump redecorated the room with extensive gold detailing when he returned to office last year.
Trump also used the moment to review his first two years in the role. He described the period as a “tremendous” one, claiming he has done more than any previous president regarding border security and the stock market. He acknowledged that there had been “some mistakes, too,” though he did not specify which ones.
The proclamation was signed while Republicans retain control of Congress for another two months. Trump’s final campaign message on Monday focused on renovation efforts in Washington, including the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The pool has been closed since July due to repair work following upgrades Trump requested.
