Every U.S. president is given the choice of remodeling the White House, with the Oval Office given special attention.
Each president’s aesthetic choices reflect their personal taste and political beliefs. This is most apparent in the different choices of former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.
Biden’s decorations were much more minimalist, while Trump’s are maximalist, reflecting his long-lasting love of gold.
While the gold curtains remained unchanged, Trump extended the gold theme to consume the whole Oval Office. He added gold to the crown molding on the previously bare ceiling.
Biden had portraits sparsely placed around the Oval Office — Trump has the walls cluttered with them, with a large portrait of former President Ronald Reagan placed prominently to the president’s left. The paintings are placed in gold frames.
The differences are even more apparent by the fireplace, where the president meets with foreign leaders.
Biden’s central portrait above the fireplace was progressive hero, former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Trump’s is of the U.S. founding father, former President George Washington, in military uniform.
Biden’s fireplace was completely white, with green shrubbery placed on top. The walls behind him were bare except for five visible portraits.
Trump’s fireplace is emblazoned with gold, with seven golden decorations on top of it. Two gold decorations are on each side, while two gold mirrors are on two flanking doors further out. Seven portraits are visible behind the fireplace.
OVAL OFFICE CONFRONTATIONS ARE RARE AND UNPREDICTABLE BUT NOT UNPRECEDENTED
The tables holding busts to the flanks of the fireplace are now embellished with gold, replacing the plain wood tables from Biden. Trump swapped Biden’s bust of Robert F. Kennedy with one of Winston Churchill.
Biden’s Oval Office only featured the American flag and the presidential seal flag behind him. Trump added the flags of all the military branches.
