U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order and proclamation designating the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as national monuments with special protections.
This will prevent future presidents from altering or destroying them.
After making some major renovations during his second term, the President has now signed the order in a bid to preserve them.
The spaces are placed under the management and protection of the National Park Service to preserve their current historic character and architectural integrity.
‘It won’t be able to be taken down, destroyed, touched or anything else. It’s actually called a national monument,’ he said.
‘It’s a federal landmark. When completed … it’ll make it impossible for anybody ever to destroy this incredible space.’
Trump has already placed gold-gilded accents in the Oval Office, including new, heavy gold font signs similar to those in Mar-a-Lago.
Plans for his ornate ballroom, for which he destroyed the historic East Wing of the White House, are underway.
And this spring, the Trump-appointed head of the federal arts commission proposed replacing the four front columns of the White House with the Corinthian style, which is on the US Capitol and Supreme Court buildings.
Future presidents can still redecorate, change furniture and artwork, or make standard operational and security modifications, provided those changes do not substantially alter the permanent structure or architectural design.
