Video posted, Donald Trump’s 24-Karat Gold White House Makeover: ‘Best Oval Office Ever’ or Tone-Deaf Bling? Former U.S. President Donald Trump has never hidden his love for gold. From Trump Tower to Mar-a-Lago, he has always favored gilded interiors, opulent chandeliers, and flashy trimmings that reflect his flamboyant personality. Now, in his second term, Trump has extended his golden touch to the most powerful office in the world—the White House.
Over the weekend, Trump unveiled what he proudly calls the “best Oval Office ever”, showcasing a 24-karat gold makeover that has transformed the historic presidential workspace into a dazzling display of glitz and grandeur. But while Trump celebrated his golden office on Truth Social, the internet wasn’t impressed.
Critics blasted the redesign as tacky, classless, and tone-deaf, especially since the video was posted just hours after a deadly mass shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan. In this deep dive, we break down Trump’s White House gold makeover, his boasts about foreign leaders “freaking out” at the sight, the social media backlash, and what historians and critics are saying about his attempt to leave a permanent golden mark on American history.
Donald Trump’s 24-Karat Gold White House Makeover: ‘Best Oval Office Ever’ or Tone-Deaf Bling?
Trump’s Golden Claim: “Best Oval Office Ever”
On Sunday, Donald Trump uploaded a 37-second silent video to Truth Social. The footage panned across dozens of glimmering ornaments, gilded carvings, gold vases, and other flashy trimmings laid out on a table—items he said were destined for the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room.
Alongside the video, Trump wrote:
“Some of the highest quality 24 Karat Gold used in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room of the White House. Foreign Leaders, and everyone else, ‘freak out’ when they see the quality and beauty. Best Oval Office ever, in terms of success and look!!! – President DJT”
The post, dripping with Trump’s signature bravado, was quickly shared across platforms. Trump even signed off the caption “President DJT,” reinforcing his brand as both politician and showman.
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The Details of the Makeover
Trump’s gold-heavy renovations were first reported by The Guardian, which described an Oval Office dripping with gilded flourishes:
- Gold trim along ceilings and doorways
- Cherubim carved into door frames, painted in gold
- A mantelpiece adorned with gold vases, trophies, and coasters engraved with Trump’s name
- Nearly 20 paintings hung in the office, compared to Joe Biden’s 6 and Barack Obama’s 2 presidential portraits
- Gold-framed portraits of past presidents—except Joe Biden, whose image was reportedly replaced by an autopen photo
White House officials confirmed that Trump personally paid for the gold, insisting it was of the “highest quality” but refusing to disclose how much was used.
A 70-year-old cabinetmaker from Florida, John Icart, was flown on Air Force One to oversee the redesign. Nicknamed Trump’s “gold guy”, Icart had previously worked on Mar-a-Lago, ensuring the White House makeover matched Trump’s gilded taste.
Trump on Gold: “Paint Can’t Match the Real Thing”
Trump has long defended his love for gold. In a March interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, he argued that no paint can ever replicate the richness of real gold.
“Throughout the years, people have tried to come up with a gold paint that would look like gold, and they’ve never been able to do it. You’ve never been able to match gold with gold paint—that’s why it’s gold.”
For Trump, gold isn’t just decoration; it’s a symbol of power, wealth, and success. He claims foreign leaders are awestruck by the décor, seeing it as a reflection of American strength under his leadership.
But while Trump sees prestige, critics see something else entirely.
Social Media Reacts: “Looks Like Trash”
The internet wasted no time in mocking Trump’s video. Comments on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Truth Social were filled with ridicule:
- “It looks cheap and gross.”
- “Absolutely classless.”
- “Everyone needs to stop paying taxes. This will shake the govt.”
- “It looks like a wrestler’s dressing room.”
Others compared the gilded Oval Office to the excesses of European royalty or Dubai luxury hotels, saying it betrayed the democratic modesty envisioned by America’s Founding Fathers.
Some online sleuths even pointed out that identical gold ornaments could be purchased at Home Depot for as little as $43, raising doubts about whether everything was truly 24-karat.
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The Timing: Gold Video After Michigan Church Shooting
What made the backlash especially fierce was the timing of Trump’s post.
Just hours earlier, a U.S. Marine veteran opened fire at a Mormon church in Michigan, killing at least four people, injuring eight, and setting the chapel ablaze. Trump acknowledged the attack at around 1 p.m. on Truth Social, calling it a “horrendous shooting” and declaring that the “EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
But by 4:30 p.m., Trump was boasting about gold décor.
Critics pounced on the contrast:
- “HOW is he posting THIS after what happened last night in NC, and today in Michigan?”
- “Monitoring? No, Trump is busy bragging about his 24kt gold.”
For many, the gold haul video symbolized Trump’s tone-deaf priorities, focusing on opulence while Americans mourned a tragedy.
Trump’s Expanding White House Projects
The Oval Office makeover is only part of Trump’s larger transformation of the White House. Since returning to office, Trump has:
- Paved over the Rose Garden and replaced the lawn with a white marble patio featuring umbrellas imported from Mar-a-Lago
- Commissioned a $200 million grand ballroom—larger than the White House itself, financed partly by corporations such as Google, Palantir, and Lockheed Martin
- Installed gold-framed portraits of all U.S. presidents—except Joe Biden
- Secured the FIFA World Cup trophy for display in the Oval Office after lobbying FIFA President Gianni Infantino
The ballroom project, in particular, has drawn criticism. Renderings show a massive structure towering over the White House, filled with chandeliers, gold candlesticks, and lavish décor reminiscent of Versailles.
Critics vs. Supporters
The Critics: “Awash in Gilt”
Historians and cultural critics have blasted Trump’s design choices as excessive and un-American.
- Kate Andersen Brower, White House historian:
“He’s trying to leave his mark in a very physical way on the White House, unlike any other President in recent history.”
- The Washington Post columnist:
“Where the Oval Office once conjured gravitas and continuity through its restrained adornments, it now evokes insecurity and petulance. It is awash in gilt.”
- Jack White, musician:
Compared the Oval Office to a “wrestler’s dressing room.”
Others argue that Trump’s redesign undermines the White House’s symbolism as a people’s house, turning it into a stage for one man’s ego.
The Defenders: “Golden Office for the Golden Age”
Still, Trump’s allies defend the changes. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the redesign as:
“The Golden Office for the Golden Age.”
Supporters argue that Trump personally funded the projects, sparing taxpayers the cost. They also claim the upgrades add a sense of grandeur befitting the presidency.
A Question of Legacy
Trump’s makeover is not just about aesthetics; it’s about legacy.
Unlike past presidents, who made modest changes out of respect for history, Trump seems intent on leaving a permanent stamp on the White House. His critics say it’s an attempt to rewrite presidential tradition in his own flashy image.
Yet, as historian Andersen Brower notes, successors could reverse his changes—but at a steep financial and political cost. Reversing Trump’s golden legacy might appear petty, and raising funds for restoration could prove difficult.
Trump’s Gold Obsession: A Lifelong Pattern
From the Trump Tower penthouse with ceilings painted in 24-karat gold leaf, to Mar-a-Lago’s golden ballroom, Trump has always surrounded himself with gilded luxury.
Gold, to him, is more than décor. It’s a brand, a lifestyle, and a political statement.
During a White House tour, Trump corrected a reporter who called the gold cherubs “figures,” insisting:
“It’s angels. Angels bring good luck, and we need a lot of luck in this country.”
To Trump, the gold symbolizes prosperity and divine favor. To critics, it symbolizes vanity and poor taste.
Conclusion: Best Oval Office Ever—or a Golden Misstep?
Donald Trump’s 24-karat gold Oval Office has become one of the most controversial redesigns in White House history.
Trump insists it’s the “best ever,” a powerful symbol that impresses foreign leaders and reflects American greatness.
But for many Americans, the makeover is a tone-deaf spectacle—a gaudy obsession that diminishes the dignity of the presidency and trivializes moments of national tragedy. Whether history remembers it as a Golden Office for a Golden Age or a tacky misstep may depend not on Trump’s boasts but on how future presidents—and the American people—decide to interpret the glittering legacy he leaves behind.
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