Camilla Jessen
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency has brought more than just political changes.
From gold-plated mirrors to asphalt replacing Jackie Kennedy’s iconic Rose Garden, Donald Trump’s return to the White House comes with sweeping—and controversial—decor changes that mirror his Mar-a-Lago aesthetic more than traditional presidential style.
Trump’s Gilded Touch Returns
Since returning to the White House in January, President Donald Trump has wasted no time putting his personal touch on the place.
This time, though, the changes go far beyond politics.
Just six months into his new term, the Oval Office looks very different—less like a formal workplace and more like a golden extension of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
A Fascination with Gold
The White House is fast becoming what observers are calling a “mini Versailles,” inspired by the opulent décor of Trump’s Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.
As reported by EFE and cited by Agerpres, Trump has taken his fascination with gold to new heights, dramatically altering both the Oval Office and surrounding White House grounds in ways that break with decades of presidential tradition.
Trump’s signature aesthetic—gilded accents, ornate furnishings, and visual excess—is on full display.
Inside the New Oval Office
The Oval Office now features double the number of paintings it housed just months ago, alongside gold-framed mirrors, decorative trophies, and gilded flourishes on the walls, fireplace, and tables.
Gone is the ivy-covered mantelpiece that served as a visual constant for over 50 years.
In its place are metallic trophies and a gold watch.
Mugshot
And in one particularly provocative move, Trump has hung a framed copy of the New York Post front page featuring his own 2023 criminal mugshot from Georgia.
The image captured global headlines after he was indicted for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in that state.
He has also replaced the portrait of Hillary Clinton, once part of a first ladies’ series, with one of himself.
The Rose Garden, Paved Over
Perhaps the most controversial change has taken place outside the Oval Office, where Trump ordered the iconic Rose Garden—designed by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1962—to be paved over.
The garden’s transformation is reportedly intended to make the space more functional for hosting large-scale events, with asphalt replacing large sections of grass and flowerbeds.
Giant Flagpoles
Two towering 30-meter flagpoles now stand on the site, raising enormous American flags.
According to reports, Trump personally financed the flagpoles.
He also greenlit the removal of a historic magnolia tree first planted during Andrew Jackson’s presidency, citing concerns over disease—though critics see it as another break with tradition.
A Ballroom in the Works
In a further Mar-a-Lago-inspired move, Trump has expressed plans to build a full-scale ballroom on White House grounds.
Estimated at $100 million, the venue would mimic his Florida estate’s grand reception hall.
If approved, it would be one of the most expensive structural additions to the executive residence in decades.
Not the First to Renovate
While Trump’s changes are unusual, he’s not the first president to leave a personal mark on the White House.
Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, explains in his essay “A Changing White House” that leaders have been making bold changes to the building since the early 1800s.
Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were criticized for their additions.
Jackie Kennedy’s own redesign was once seen as too fancy.
Even Richard Nixon faced pushback when he turned Franklin D. Roosevelt’s old swimming pool into the White House press room.
“These changes often seemed shocking at the time,” McLaurin writes, “but many became part of the White House we now see as normal.”
