Donald Trump has once again grabbed attention with a golden staging that combines politics, aesthetics, and a generous dose of extravagance.
In a video published this Sunday on his social network Truth Social, the American president showcased the new 24-karat gold decorations that adorn the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room of the White House.
The publication—a sort of real estate promotion and declaration of symbolic power—went viral immediately, drawing both praise and ridicule.
“24-karat gold of the highest quality used in the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room of the White House. Foreign leaders, and everyone else, are amazed at the quality and beauty,” Trump boasted.
"The best Oval Office in history, both in success and appearance! President DJT," the U.S. leader added in the full message he published alongside a video showing stacked golden moldings ready to be installed.
The clip has been interpreted as an -unconfirmed- response to rumors suggesting that the golden pieces could be inexpensive decorations, purchased from stores like Home Depot or even Alibaba, and then spray-painted gold.
A golden aesthetic for a golden presidency
Trump does not hide his fascination with gold.
From his private residences bathed in gold—like Trump Tower in New York and his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach—to his private jets, the president has made gold a symbol of his personal brand and power.
Now, that aesthetic is strongly transferred to the center of American political power: the Oval Office.
"It is the Golden Office for the Golden Era", celebrated press secretary Karoline Leavitt in statements to the Wall Street Journal, reaffirming that this redesign has a clear intention: to project a new narrative of greatness.
According to U.S. media outlets such as Daily Mail and New York Post, the decor includes angels, 24-carat gold moldings, golden curtains inherited from the Biden administration, personalized coasters, and even a golden button to order Diet Coke.
“They're of gold, all of gold”, Trump boasted during a guided tour he gave to Fox News, where he also referred to the decorative figures.
"They say that angels bring good luck and that we need a lot of luck in this country," she said then.
The redesign is not limited to the interior.
In the Rose Garden, Trump replaced the grass with concrete and adorned it with a white marble patio and imported umbrellas from Florida, creating the “Rose Garden Club”, a space where he hosts guests with meals and music selected by himself.
Criticism, doubts, and mockery
The aesthetic transformation has not been without controversy. Users on social media, journalists, and political opponents have questioned the authenticity of the supposed materials used.
Some detected in stores like Home Depot moldings that were almost identical to those shown in the presidential video, with prices ranging from $30 to $50. Others pointed out similar items on Alibaba for just one dollar.
“People have tried to create a gold paint that looks like gold, and they have never succeeded,” Trump insisted in March during an interview with Laura Ingraham. “Gold has never been matched by gold paint.”
From the White House, a spokesperson told Fox News that "all the gold decorations, of the highest quality, were purchased and paid for by Trump himself." However, the controversy did not dissipate.
A monumental renovation
Beyond the baroque aesthetics, Trump has even more ambitious plans.
In the South Garden, construction has already begun on a monumental ballroom of 90,000 square feet, funded -according to his team- with private contributions.
The event hall, which can accommodate up to 900 people, is directly inspired by the Donald J. Trump Grand Ballroom at Mar-a-Lago, and will include giant chandeliers, gold-plated utensils, soaring ceilings, and walls adorned with gold leaf valued in the millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, the White House has already integrated seven golden vases from its historical collection, now placed on a golden mantelpiece, in addition to a replica of the FIFA World Cup on the Resolute Desk.
Artistic legacy or symbol of vanity?
The underlying question is whether this renovation aims to redefine the symbol of presidential power or if it merely reflects Trump's aesthetic ego.
Previous presidents established cinemas, bowling alleys, or greenhouses, but nothing on this scale.
For now, Trump seems determined to impose his vision: a White House that shines like a royal palace, reflecting his style, his legacy, and his belief that gold is not merely a color, but a statement of power.
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