'No changes allowed': Trump designates Oval Office as national monument
What's the story
United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designating the White House Oval Office as a national monument. The order designates the iconic office as a national monument, barring future presidents from making major alterations. "We're making it a national monument, and it will not be allowed to be touched by anybody, destroyed, ripped down by stupid people, in order to build something in a slightly different shape," Trump told reporters on Thursday.
Monument designation
Executive order and Trump's defense of controversial changes
However, it does not restrict the president's ability to redecorate or make ordinary operational changes that don't compromise the office's historic structure or architectural character.
"We like the Oval Office, and it's a symbol, like the White House itself. It's a symbol of our country and the greatness of our country," Trump said, defending his controversial cosmetic changes like adding gold features.
Historic preservation
White House already a National Historic Landmark
Trump claimed the White House and the Oval Office had been in need of repairs before his changes, calling them "badly damaged" with broken windows, cracked walls and broken stone.
"When you looked at that wall one year ago, it was badly damaged from years of service," he said, adding that exterior columns had also been in "horrible shape."
Redesign debate
'He's got White House looking like Saddam opened Cheesecake Factory'
Trump's redesign of the Oval Office has drawn criticism, including from former president Barack Obama, who joked that "he's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory....Just gold everywhere."
The White House grounds are already a National Historic Landmark to prevent sudden changes.
Most executive orders can be overturned, and Trump himself reduced the size of two national monuments in Utah, undoing protections established by his predecessors on public lands that are sacred among Native Americans.