Two days after losing Congress, Trump tried to freeze his Oval Office remodel as a “national monument”

Two days after the midterms, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation naming the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, and the adjoining offices a national monument. He said the rooms “will not be allowed to be touched by anybody” after his gilded makeover.

Voters ended his control of Congress. He moved to lock in his changes as a new Congress prepared to scrutinize the spending and the donors behind his building projects.

What the order does. It uses the Antiquities Act, a law meant for historic and natural sites, to put the Interior Department in charge of the rooms. It requires review before any substantial alteration or demolition. The text also says a president can still redecorate and make routine operational or security updates. The Associated Press reported the same. It does not cut Congress out of its authority over federal property. Trump told reporters it would take Congress to undo his move, but that requirement does not appear in the proclamation. Legal experts note any successor can revoke a monument proclamation, as Trump himself has done with others.

One set of rules for everyone.

It follows a run of projects Trump pushed ahead without Congress, including a $400 million ballroom where the East Wing stood. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, says the new Congress can investigate and use the purse strings to stop any illegal diversion of taxpayer money. Sen. Elizabeth Warren says lawmakers should dig into any corrupt donations and return the money to the public. The White House says Trump has simply beautified national spaces.

Changing protections after you lose is a power move. If you care about fair play, speak up. Do not reward leaders who try to change the rules after the votes are counted.

• Share this with one neighbor who thinks this is just about decor, not power.
• Ask your representatives to back hearings on White House construction spending and donors.
• Watch whether the new Congress, sworn in Jan. 3, follows through on investigating the projects and who paid for them.
• Check your voter registration at Vote.gov

Countdown

The swearing-in of the new Congress is in 56 days.

References

Trump declares the Oval Office a national monument. Nov 5, 2026
Trump declares the Oval Office a national monument. Nov 5, 2026
Trump declares the Oval Office a national monument. Nov 5, 2026
Trump makes the Oval Office a national monument. But future presidents can still redecorate. Nov 5, 2026