Replica Oval Office Gets Trump's Second-Term Makeover
The People's House museum exhibit has recreated the former president's flashy and gold-adorned design choices for its display.
A replica Oval Office at The People’s House museum exhibit near the White House has undergone a transformation, now reflecting Donald Trump’s second-term design choices, characterized by abundant gold accents and ornate flourishes.
The exhibit, which opened in September 2024, aims to connect visitors with the space by replicating the real Oval Office. Public tours of the White House do not include access to the West Wing, making the museum's replica a popular attraction. The current iteration showcases Trump’s taste, featuring gleaming vases, golden-hued onlays, and numerous portraits in heavy gilded frames.
Specialized designers recreated Trump's Oval Office down to each wall appliqué. Experts in North Carolina worked on the wall embellishments, while a team from Indianapolis handled 3D scanning and printing of other objects. California frame-makers hand-carved the gold frames for the 24 portraits Trump selected, and teams from Canada and Virginia recreated vases and tabletop items. The replica also includes two mirrors and a copy of the Declaration of Independence, mirroring Trump's actual office.
Before entering politics, Trump, a real estate developer, made several renovations to the White House. These included paving over lawn space near the Rose Garden to create a patio reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago estate, installing a row of presidential portraits along the colonnade, erecting large flagpoles on the lawns, and renovating the Palm Room and the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom. He also ordered restoration work on the North Portico's front columns.
Trump has previously expressed a strong attachment to the Oval Office, calling it a "beautiful room that nobody should be allowed to rip down" and asking for his altered office to be designated a federal landmark. He also oversaw the construction of a $400 million ballroom after the demolition of the East Wing, stating the project "relaxes me."
The White House Historical Association, responsible for the exhibit, initially mirrored Democratic President Joe Biden's design in the replica. Following the 2024 election, the exhibit was updated to reflect Trump's first-term style before the recent second-term makeover.
Last week, a crew of 25 people worked extensively to complete the transformation, applying finishing touches over several days. While the real Oval Office uses gilded gold leaf, the replica employs a paint solution to avoid wear and tear from visitors. In the actual office, Trump was noted to have used superglue for ornaments, but the replica used laser levels and temporary adhesive, with many adornments later nailed to the walls for durability.
Several elements from previous presidencies remain in Trump's version of the Oval Office, including a beige-patterned rug from the Ronald Reagan era, gold draperies from Bill Clinton's tenure, and furniture from the George W. Bush White House. The replica also features a copy of the Resolute Desk, which visitors are permitted to sit behind.
The White House Historical Association, founded by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, does not receive government funding and relies on private donations. The cost of recreating the replica Oval Office was not disclosed. Donald Trump briefly visited the exhibit's gift shop in August 2025, and when asked if he would visit his recreated workspace, a spokesperson responded that he is "always welcome."