President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday designating the Oval Office and the Roosevelt Cabinet Room as national landmarks, a move intended to prevent significant changes to these historic spaces without congressional approval.
This executive action signifies that major modifications to either room would require an act of Congress. "There’s no major modification without the approval of Congress," Trump stated. "So if they want to say let’s not have the Oval anymore, let’s make it square, what happens is they have to go back to Congress."
Trump indicated that this designation aims to make the rooms immutable. "It’s a federal landmark. And when completed, and when we get the documentation fully done, legally binding, it’ll make it impossible for anybody ever to destroy this incredible space," he said. He added that the rooms “won’t be able to be taken down, destroyed, touched, or anything else.”
The president referenced a claim that the Secret Service had expressed a desire to rebuild the Oval Office for enhanced security. Trump recounted his dismissive response to this suggestion. "My a–, you can’t build a new one," he reportedly said.
However, the order does not prevent future presidents from redecorating. Trump acknowledged that his successor could redecorate the rooms, including removing elements he added, such as gold trim and paintings, stating, "They can do anything they want, as long as they do it carefully."