President Donald Trump told Time magazine he rejected a Secret Service proposal to tear down and rebuild the Oval Office, calling the room “a special place.” He is reportedly considering efforts to designate the office as a federal landmark and has asked Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for a statement. During his second term, Trump has overseen broad decorative and structural changes at the White House, including a gold-heavy Oval Office, demolition of the East Wing for a new ballroom, and paving over parts of the Rose Garden.
Trump Rejects Secret Service Plan To Rebuild Oval Office, Calls It A "Special Place"
(Getty Images)
President Donald Trump told Time magazine he turned down a Secret Service proposal to tear down and rebuild the Oval Office, saying the room is too historic to replace.
What He Said
“They said, 'Sir, we think the Oval Office should be taken down, and we'll build a new one, sir.' I said, 'My a**, you can't build a new one. This is a special place.'” Trump recounted to Time.
Why He Opposed Reconstruction
Trump stressed the Oval Office's historical significance as a reason to oppose demolition. He noted that President William Howard Taft created the first Oval Office in 1909 and that President Franklin D. Roosevelt placed the current Oval Office in its present location during the West Wing expansion of 1934. Trump said he has been discussing formal protections for the room, asking White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for a public statement about making the office a federal landmark.
Renovations During His Second Term
Since returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has overseen extensive decorative and structural changes in and around the West Wing. He has introduced prominent gold accents in the Oval Office, including gold trim on crown molding, gold-framed artwork, a gold presidential seal on the ceiling, and a gold sign outside the door reading "The Oval Office."
Other major alterations credited to his administration include:
- Demolition of the East Wing in October 2025 to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
- Paving over portions of the Rose Garden and placing tables and chairs in the area.
- A redesign of the Palm Room (which links the residence to the West Wing colonnade and Rose Garden) and replacement of the West Wing walkway flooring with dark granite.
- Installation of gold-framed presidential portraits along the West Wing Walkway and Colonnade, modifications to the Cabinet Room, new flagpoles on the North and South lawns, and construction of a helipad on the South Lawn.
His View Of The White House Before Renovations
Reflecting on the work, Trump told Time he found the White House in disrepair when he returned. He described it as a “dump,” saying moldings were falling, doors and locks were broken, and the exterior needed painting. He added that refurbishing the building was a task he enjoyed and felt uniquely suited to complete.
Source: Time (interview published Thursday); reporting compiled from public statements and administration announcements.
Help us improve.
