In his first year back in the White House, President Trump has left an indefinite mark on some of Washington, D.C.’s most historic spaces.
No place in the nation’s capital has experienced more dramatic change than the White House.
Major renovations include:
- The Oval Office underwent a significant overhaul, featuring new artwork that includes portraits of former presidents and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Gold accents now line the walls and ceiling, as well as the door and window frames.
- The Cabinet Room received similar decorative changes with gold accents.
- The West Colonnade, the iconic walkway long used by presidents as they traveled between the White House residence and the West Wing, now features a Presidential Walk of Fame with portraits and plaques honoring former presidents. The portrait of Joe Biden is noticeably absent and has been replaced with an image of an autopen.
- The Palm Room, which connects the West Wing to the residence, has been renovated with a new marble floor and a crystal chandelier.
- The bathroom off the Lincoln Bedroom received additional marble on the walls and floors.
- The Rose Garden, traditionally used for major announcements and ceremonial events such as the Thanksgiving turkey pardon, has been transformed. Originally designed during President John F. Kennedy’s administration and renovated during Trump’s first term, the garden’s central grass lawn has now been completely paved over. Trump has referred to the redesigned space as the Rose Garden Club.
- Two large flagpoles were installed on the North and South Lawns.
- The East Wing, formerly home to the offices of the First Lady, was demolished to make room for a new ballroom.
Beyond the White House grounds, Trump’s influence has extended across the city.
The board of trustees of the Kennedy Center voted to rename the performing arts complex the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, with the building’s facade updated to reflect the change.
The president has seemingly set his sights on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which was completed in 1923, and underwent major renovations between 2010 and 2012.Â
Trump has also unveiled plans to construct a Paris-style arch just west of the Lincoln Memorial, a project intended to give him another enduring monument in a city already defined by its landmarks.
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