Donald Trump issues proclamation declaring Oval Office a national monument

United States President Donald Trump has officially designated the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, and the Outer Oval Office as a national monument. The president signed the proclamation on Thursday while seated at his desk, where a red “VETO” baseball cap was placed.

This decision represents the president's first formal act following his party's significant defeats in Tuesday's midterm elections, which will see Democrats take control of Congress in January. According to the proclamation, the order aims to protect the historic character and architectural integrity of these West Wing spaces.

“We’re making it a national monument, and it will not be allowed to be touched by anybody, destroyed, ripped down by stupid people, in order to build something in a slightly different shape,” Mr Trump told journalists during the signing. He described the move as a way to establish the rooms as a “landmark for the ages.”

The proclamation directs the interior secretary to oversee the site via the National Park Service. It requires that any plans to demolish or substantially change the area undergo a formal process of review and consideration of alternatives.

Despite these measures, the order does not forbid future presidents from changing the decor or furnishings of the office. The text notes that a successor could potentially revoke or modify the proclamation through new executive action, a method Mr Trump has previously employed regarding monuments in Utah.

This signing follows other major projects pursued by the administration, such as a proposed 76-metre triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and plans to demolish the East Wing for a nearly $1bn ballroom built over an underground bunker. Previous initiatives, including a failed renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, cost more than $14m and attracted criticism from opposition lawmakers.

Since his return to office in 2025, the president has overseen various construction projects, including the installation of a granite helicopter pad on the South Lawn and the addition of stone paving to the Rose Garden. Inside the White House, the Oval Office has undergone a golden refurbishment featuring 24-karat gold trim and heavy gilded frames.

In September of last year, the West Wing Colonnade was updated with the “Presidential Walk of Fame,” an exhibition of portraits featuring plaques with critical remarks about former presidents, such as Barack Obama. The administration has faced several legal challenges claiming these projects were undertaken without proper authorisation.

Addressing the potential for future changes, Mr Trump stated: “If anybody ever decides to come and start knocking down walls, you call me wherever I may be, and I’ll come back here and I’ll make sure it never happens.”