Overview

• New reporting and photos show extensive gilding in the Oval Office, with gold trim on ceilings, door frames and the fireplace, added cherub motifs, and many more portraits and personal artifacts on display.
• The White House told Fox News the gold accents are “of the highest quality” and were paid for by President Trump, with a Florida cabinetmaker, John Icart, reportedly brought in to help execute the work.
• Plans for a roughly 90,000‑square‑foot East Wing ballroom carry an estimated $200 million price tag and are described by aides as privately financed, with construction expected to begin this fall.
• The Rose Garden lawn has been replaced with stone pavers to create a more durable setting for press events and receptions, a change that has drawn sharp criticism from preservation voices and commentators.
• Beyond the White House, Trump has pushed a wider “beautification” effort in Washington, including brighter lighting in the Cabinet Room, proposed street repaving, fountain restorations, and exploration of refurbishing a Potomac golf course.