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President Donald Trump, now serving a nonconsecutive second term, has once again infused the White House with his unmistakable aesthetic sensibility—an affinity for maximalism, grandeur, and the unmistakable shimmer of gold. His redesign introduces lavish gilded details that adorn both the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room, transforming the traditionally stately residence into a visual manifestation of his personal brand. The renovations extend beyond ornamentation; they form part of a broader architectural vision, including a newly revitalized Rose Garden and an ambitious proposal to construct a $200 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom in the East Wing—one that promises to become among the most expansive formal spaces in presidential history.
Over the decades, every U.S. president has subtly reshaped the White House interior, using design as an expression of both personal taste and political narrative. In Trump’s case, the shift is immediately visible. Where President Joe Biden’s Oval Office once conveyed restraint and modern simplicity, Trump’s reimagining emphasizes historical opulence—gold trims, regal patterns, and a warmer luminosity that recalls palatial European interiors. The overall atmosphere is less about minimalism and more about magnificence.
One of the most noticeable changes involves the Oval Office rug. Under Biden, the carpet was a dignified dark blue design featuring the presidential seal at its center—a piece originally created for President Bill Clinton by Arkansas-based designer Kaki Hockersmith. Trump replaced it upon his return with a lighter, sunbeam-patterned rug that once graced Ronald Reagan’s Oval Office, decorated with olive branches signifying peace and encircled by radiant gold hues. Trump had used the same rug during his first term, and by reinstating it, he symbolically restored continuity with his preferred vision of traditional grandeur and optimism.
The display of flags in the Oval Office also underwent a dramatic expansion. Where Biden’s configuration maintained just two—the American flag and one bearing the presidential seal—Trump reintroduced flags representing distinct branches of the U.S. military, notably those of the Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. The resulting tableau conveys a deep militaristic homage and an aesthetic of authority, echoing imagery familiar to Trump’s public persona.
The ceiling of Biden’s Oval Office, unembellished and understated, matched the soft cream tone of its wallpaper. Trump, however, could not resist enhancement: the crown molding now glimmers with gold trim, harmonizing perfectly with the existing draperies, which remain golden but are newly emphasized by the metallic reflection above. In their combined effect, these adjustments transform the room’s lighting, casting a warmer, richer ambiance that dramatizes the motifs of power and prestige.
Portrait selection, too, reflects each president’s philosophy. Biden curated his Oval Office with symbolism of unity and ideological balance, pairing images of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton to represent constructive debate, complemented by portraits of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Under Trump, the atmosphere has shifted toward celebratory commemoration: new portraits with elaborately gilded frames now form an effective gallery wall, with a prominent replacement of Biden’s FDR portrait by that of George Washington. Trump has additionally highlighted ornate gold urns and baskets drawn from the White House’s historical collection and placed them on the mantle. Even the smallest details, such as coasters branded with his name in gold print, underscore his well-documented preference for self-referential luxury—a theme similarly evident throughout his Trump Tower penthouse in New York and at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, where entire ballrooms gleam from floor to ceiling with gilded accents.
Historic features have not been spared glamorization. The presidential seal on the ceiling of the Oval Office, originally installed in 1934 during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s remodeling, once appeared as a simple, dignified plaster relief. Trump’s intervention has gilded the seal itself and the surrounding stars, cloaking the design in resplendent gold paint that magnifies visibility and elevates the sense of theatrical pageantry.
Changes extend to the White House Entrance Hall as well. Biden had honored his former running mate and predecessor by displaying Barack Obama’s official portrait—an intricate hyperrealistic work by artist Robert McCurdy unveiled in 2023. Trump replaced this symbolic image with a portrait of himself, rendered by artist Marc Lipp based on an Associated Press photo that captured Trump raising his fist defiantly after surviving an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. This artistic swap reorients the space from homage to self-celebration, consistent with Trump’s characteristic command of visual storytelling.
Outside, an equally bold transformation has redefined the Rose Garden. Historically conceived in 1913 by First Lady Ellen Wilson as a formal flower garden, and later modified under various administrations, the area evolved into an iconic site for press events. Melania Trump’s 2020 redesign introduced a limestone border—a prelude to her husband’s later overhaul. Finding the natural lawn impractical for large formal occasions—particularly troublesome during rain or for guests wearing high heels—Trump ordered the lawn paved and converted into what he now calls ‘The Rose Garden Club,’ a terrace-like space surfaced in concrete and stone tiles. Completed in August after months of renovation, the new garden emphasizes functionality and grandeur over horticultural tradition.
Where Biden and earlier presidents occasionally hosted expansive outdoor events beneath elegant white tents, Trump’s long-term solution arrives in the form of the grand ballroom currently under construction. Announced in July, the 90,000-square-foot facility—funded by Trump and private donors he characterizes as ‘patriots’—will seat as many as 650 people. White House representatives have described it as a ‘much-needed and exquisite addition,’ intended to accommodate larger gatherings within the building itself, surpassing the East Room’s 200-person capacity.
Within the Cabinet Room, located adjacent to the Oval Office, Trump’s preference for opulence is equally apparent. The room, whose massive oval-shaped mahogany table was commissioned by President Richard Nixon in 1970, had appeared minimalist under Biden’s administration, decorated sparingly with light-toned curtains and soft wall colors. Now, the space gleams with an array of paintings depicting presidents from George Washington to Dwight D. Eisenhower, chosen personally by Trump. ‘The vaults are where we have a lot of great pictures and artwork,’ he remarked, taking pride in having curated the entire collection himself.
Decorative details extend beyond images. Where eagle-shaped sconces once embodied mid-century patriotic elegance—installations dating to a 2004 refurbishment—Trump has augmented them with brilliant 24-karat gold decals adorning both walls and ceiling borders. Even the newly hung curtains shimmer with matching golden tones. In a Truth Social post, Trump boasted about the exceptional quality of the finish, proclaiming that foreign dignitaries are invariably astonished by the visual splendor.
Taken collectively, these design gestures signify more than mere aesthetic choices. They constitute a deliberate reframing of the executive residence in Trump’s unmistakable style—glittering, forceful, unmistakably theatrical. Whether viewed as a restoration of grand tradition or a departure into excess, his White House now stands as the most visually ornate iteration of the residence in recent memory, transforming an emblem of governance into a stage for personal and historical spectacle.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-white-house-decor-oval-office-photos-2025-4
