President Donald Trump is reportedly giving the White House a flashy makeover that makes it look more like his Mar-a-Lago club than the traditional residence of the commander in chief.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump has added gold accents across the White House and even brought in a cabinetmaker from Florida known as his personal “gold guy.”
Meet the ‘Gold Guy’
John Icart, a cabinetmaker who has worked on projects at Mar-a-Lago, flew to Washington on Air Force One and helped install custom-made gold finishes in the Oval Office.
These include gilded carvings on the fireplace mantel and ornate molding along the room’s walls.
Trump also brought in gold cherubs from his Florida property to add to the decor.
“It’s the Golden Office for the Golden Age,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in an email to the Journal.
Oval Office Gets a Gold Makeover
Visitors have noticed other additions too: gold coasters with Trump’s name, seven gold vases and urns on the mantel, and even a large gold FIFA World Cup trophy next to the Resolute Desk.
There’s also a gold Trump crest above the door leading in from the colonnade, and gold trim on the dining room table just off the Oval Office.
Trump reportedly asked the Government Publishing Office to reprint official portraits of himself and Vice President JD Vance with a shimmering gold border.
The request delayed completion of the portraits since it required special metallic gold ink and a different printer.
A Longstanding Love for Gold
Trump’s fondness for gold is nothing new. His Trump Tower penthouse in New York is famously drenched in gold, and Mar-a-Lago features golden ceilings, furniture, and picture frames.
As he told Fox News’s Laura Ingraham in March: “People have tried to come up with a gold paint that would look like gold, and they have never been able to do it. You’ve never been able to match gold with gold paint. That’s why it’s gold.”
More Changes on the Horizon
The president also reportedly looked into installing a chandelier in the Oval Office, but officials said it was too heavy for the ceiling. However, the idea hasn’t been ruled out entirely.
According to the Journal, Trump began imagining changes the day he moved in.
He wants to build a patio in the Rose Garden for outdoor dining and events, and he’s discussed adding a ballroom to the grounds for formal functions.
Officials from the White House Historical Association have been consulted about what approvals are needed.
Balancing Personal Taste with History
Though presidents typically make minor changes to the White House, any updates to the state floor require the approval of the White House curator.
“The White House is the People’s House after all, it doesn’t belong to any one President,” wrote White House historian Kate Andersen Brower in an email.
In Trump’s first term, he made few design changes. This time around, it’s clear he’s going for a more personal and very golden touch.