United States President Donald Trump has designated the Oval Office a national monument through a newly signed order, extending his focus on changes to the White House despite his Republican Party’s poor performance in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
The decision comes amid growing criticism that Trump has devoted more attention to renovation and beautification projects in Washington than to issues troubling American voters, particularly the war with Iran and the rising cost of living.
Critics had accused the president of neglecting these concerns during the election campaign, which ended in a major setback for Republicans.
A day after Democrats secured victories in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Trump appeared to play down the electoral outcome, instead drawing attention to construction work on a new ballroom at the White House.
His latest announcement centred on the Oval Office, which he has adorned with gold decorations since returning to power last year, as well as the adjoining Cabinet Room.
Trump said the proclamation was intended to protect the two rooms from future destruction or alterations by successive administrations.
“It won’t be able to be taken down, destroyed, touched, or anything else. It’s called actually a national monument,” he told reporters.
The president also maintained that the designation would prevent future occupants of the White House from undertaking construction work in the two rooms.
However, the decision has raised speculation about whether Trump is considering additional renovations to the West Wing, following previous indications that he might relocate journalists from the famous briefing room situated close to the Oval Office.
The signing ceremony, which took place inside the Oval Office, was not aired by major US television networks after Trump excluded CNN from the rotating group of broadcasters responsible for covering White House events.
Despite largely avoiding the midterm election outcome, Trump made an apparent reference to the political battle by displaying a red baseball cap bearing the word “veto” on the Resolute Desk during the event.
The 80-year-old Republican has threatened to deploy his presidential powers to block legislation proposed by Democrats, although he has also expressed willingness to cooperate with the opposition party.
