In true Trump fashion, former President Donald Trump has once again stolen the show. He has lavishedly repainted the Oval Office, adorning it with some 30,000 dollars worth of gold trimmings and ornaments. The newly designed space reflects Trump’s penchant for luxury and wealth and has elicited criticism regarding the implications of such a bold aesthetic choice.
The redecoration has brought out some amazing gold accents on the room’s ceremonial moulding. Gold-framed paintings delicately ascend the walls, dripping opulence all the while. Trump has installed gold cherubs from his Mar-a-Lago estate. He has filled the mantelpiece with a display of gold urns which add to the impressive scale of the room. Gold filigree accents have recently been applied to the walls and fireplace, evidencing an opulent sensibility.
John Icart, a cabinetmaker from South Florida, produced most of the gold plunder that today gives the Oval Office its gold bling. If you want the low-cost version, maybe try Alibaba for some really good knockoffs of these gaudy relics starting at a buck or five. This exemplifies the chasmic divide between luxury and affordability.
Arch critics have had a field day with the ostentatious, gilded façade on 49th St. decor choices, as markers of infantility and insecurity. As one of the world’s foremost critics, Robin Givhan, pointed out, his reimagined Oval Office “now evokes insecurity and petulance.” Most of us would consider Trump’s affinity for gold gaudy at best. They regard it as a monumental symbol of his wealth and power.
Stephen Lezak, a longtime student of the political scene, said there was historical precedent for such ambition. He stated, “History does not look back favorably on those leaders,” alluding to the potential ramifications of extravagance in leadership. He added, “I wish the president had a little more perspective,” suggesting that a more measured approach might benefit Trump in the long run.
Trump’s golden obsession is more than an aesthetic preference. More than that, it reflects a larger cultural trend of chasing shiny objects. Lezak emphasized this sentiment by noting, “The president’s fascination with gold is part of a timeless tradition of humans liking shiny objects.” He pointed out the environmental concerns surrounding gold mining, stating, “Gold mining is just as destructive as coal mining, and unlike coal, can’t heat a home or fuel a power station.”
Where the redecorated Oval Office isn’t Trumpian in tone, it’s in an abundance of gold. Trump has even affixed a gold seal to the button on his desk, which he presses to summon aides—often requesting a Diet Coke. This behavior is characteristic of his larger-than-life persona and his desire to display power through ostentatiousness.