U.S. President Donald Trump's 'gold' love is also transforming the Oval Office, the presidential office within the White House. A new gold statue is positioned above the Oval Office fireplace, a gold eagle sits on the side table, and a gold Rococo-style mirror has been placed above the door, while a TV remote leading to the Oval Office has been covered in gold.
Trump removed the Swedish ivy that was on the fireplace in the Oval Office. In its place, seven artifacts made of gold were displayed on the fireplace. The side table, originally made of wood, has been replaced with a console with a marble top. The console features a gold-plated eagle, and above it are bronze busts of Martin Luther King Jr. and Winston Churchill.
The number of frames hanging on the walls of the Oval Office tripled within eight weeks of Trump taking office. Trump hung more than 20 portraits of predecessors and politicians whom he respects or draws inspiration from in the Oval Office. This contrasts with the six portraits displayed during the tenure of former President Joe Biden. Former President Barack Obama only hung two portraits, including those of Lincoln and George Washington. The remaining space was filled with modern paintings, including those by Edward Hopper.
Additionally, Trump has more items and artworks in the Oval Office than any previous U.S. president. Even when he wasn't president, Trump made his office a showcase. The window frames and tables in Trump Tower's 26th floor office are famously filled with collectibles. The walls are lined with frames and magazine covers.
According to Trump's aides, all items added to the Oval Office, whether large or small, are in accordance with Trump's directives. For example, Trump personally reviewed each portrait to be hung in the Oval Office. After selecting the figures he wanted to display, he is known to prefer dark frames for the choices. Now, as he enters the second month of his presidency, new decorations and memorabilia are coming into the Oval Office. Some of them remain on display, while others have been moved outside. CNN noted that 'Trump appears most comfortable among the items, from trophies and artworks to documents and memorabilia.'
Meanwhile, Trump typically starts his day by waking up at 6 a.m. and making phone calls. He calls aides to discuss the day's plans, including what he just saw on TV and read in the newspaper, and arrives at the Oval Office around 10 or 11 a.m.