Trump Turns the Oval Office Into a Glittering Gallery of Gold and Glamour
While President Donald Trump is actively working to significantly alter the federal government, he is simultaneously changing an iconic element of the presidential role: the design of the Oval Office. Nearly eight weeks since returning to office, Trump has tripled the number of paintings hanging on the office walls. Shelves and surfaces are adorned with flags, statues and ornaments. Consistent with his long-standing aesthetic preferences, gold can be found throughout: fresh gold vermeil statuettes adorn the mantelpiece along with medals on the hearth; golden eagles grace the side tables; ornate gilded rococo mirrors decorate the doors; tiny gold cherubs imported from Mar-a-Lago perch atop the pediments over each doorway. The TV remote even down the hallway is encased in gilt leather. According to two individuals aware of his intentions, he considered installing a chandelier in the Oval Office, although this notion appears improbable at present. This creates an image of t...