1960 Landmark Status Joins Two New Rooms in Trump's Preservation Push

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday designating the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as national monuments. The action seeks to limit future presidential alterations to those two spaces within the executive mansion.

The White House has held National Historic Landmark status since 1960. Trump argued in the new document that the Oval Office required distinct recognition as a historic structure of national importance. The proclamation allows future presidents to redecorate and adjust furnishings for operations or security, provided they do not substantially damage the protected structure or its architectural character.

This decision followed a day of public appearances focused on physical improvements to the White House complex. On Wednesday, Trump visited the construction site of the new White House ballroom. That visit marked his first public exchange with media outlets since Democrats secured control of Congress in the recent midterm elections.

During the Wednesday visit, the president emphasized his desire to maintain the building in pristine condition. The ballroom project required the demolition of the historic East Wing, a step that drew criticism from preservation groups. Trump also discussed his extensive redecoration of the Oval Office after returning to office last year, which added gold accents to the room.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the new designation would go to Congress for ratification. He stated that congressional approval would be required for major modifications to either room. He acknowledged that mistakes had occurred during his tenure but did not elaborate on specific errors.

When asked what Congress should prioritize during the remaining two months of Republican control, Trump pointed to his efforts concerning the border and the stock market. He described these areas as key victories of his administration.

The theme of renovation also appeared in Trump's final campaign speech on Monday at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The pool has been closed since July following upgrades that were described as botched. Trump devoted most of those remarks to promoting the pool's reopening and other renovation projects around Washington.