Trump issues proclamation declaring Oval Office national monument

Donald Trump has declared the Oval Office, the adjacent Cabinet Room and the Outer Oval Office a national monument, saying the designation will protect the spaces from major alteration or demolition. The move follows his party’s losses in the midterm elections and comes amid criticism of his extensive White House building and renovation projects.

The proclamation directs the interior secretary to manage the monument through the National Park Service and calls for review and consideration of alternatives before substantial changes. It does not prevent a president from changing the decor or furnishings, and a future president could revise or revoke the designation. Trump has previously altered national monument protections, while his White House projects include demolishing the East Wing for a proposed ballroom and adding gold detailing to the Oval Office.