Trump Signs Proclamation Designating Oval Office as National Monument

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday designating the Oval Office, the Outer Oval Office, and the Cabinet Room as a national monument under the 1906 Antiquities Act. The signing ceremony occurred in the Oval Office on November 5, 2026, marking the president's first official action following midterm elections held on Tuesday where Republicans lost both houses of Congress.

Trump stated that the designation will prevent future presidents from making substantial structural or architectural changes to the space, asserting that it will not be allowed to be touched or destroyed. The proclamation text specifies that it does not restrict the president's authority to redecorate, select furnishings, or make ordinary operational and security modifications that do not substantially impair the historic structure or architectural character.

Trump stated that any major modifications would require approval from Congress. The action follows recent White House renovations undertaken during Trump's second term, which include the demolition of the East Wing to construct a ballroom, paving over the Rose Garden, and adding a helicopter pad on the South Lawn. The proclamation directs the Interior secretary to manage the monument and requires documentation, review, and consideration of alternatives before any action that would substantially alter or demolish the space. It remains unclear whether the proclamation can be reversed by a future president or through legal challenges.