Inside Donald Trump's Oval Office revamp: The changes the President's made as he returns to the White House

21 January 2025, 16:48

President Trump has revamped the Oval Office in the White House, bringing back many of the staples from his first term.
President Trump has revamped the Oval Office in the White House, bringing back many of the staples from his first term. Picture: Alamy/Getty

By Lauren Lewis

President Trump has revamped the Oval Office in the White House, bringing back many of the staples from his first term.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Gone is a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that President Joe Biden hung over the historic office fireplace and back is Trump's famous Diet Coke button, a bust of Winston Churchill and portraits of the US's first Treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton and the country's third president Thomas Jefferson.

Each President revamps the Oval Office after their inauguration and picks out curtains, the rug, some furniture and the artwork to start their four year term.

Presidents are able to select artwork from the White House collection, the Smithsonian, or ask to loan works from other institutions in the US, although there are some restriction on the size of the art that can fit in the Oval Office because of the circular walls.

President Biden kept the wallpaper and gold curtains and a bust of Martin Luther King Jr selected by Trump in 2017 meaning that those also did not need to be changed.

However, Trump has removed the blue rug of the Biden era and replaced it with a neutral cream carpet, added silver eagle features on the mantelpiece over the fireplace and brought back military flags for each service branch.

Each President revamps the Oval Office after their inauguration and picks out curtains, the rug, some furniture and the artwork to start their four year term.
Each President revamps the Oval Office after their inauguration and picks out curtains, the rug, some furniture and the artwork to start their four year term. Picture: Alamy
Behind the desk are pictures of Trump's family, including an image of his daughter Ivanka as a child and of Donald and Melania with their son Barron when he as young.
Behind the desk are pictures of Trump's family, including an image of his daughter Ivanka as a child and of Donald and Melania with their son Barron when he as young. Picture: Alamy

Read more: Trump's executive orders - from renaming the Gulf of Mexico to January 6 pardons

Read more: Trump to declare border emergency, bring back 'free speech' and only recognise two genders ahead of day one orders

The Resolute Desk remains in place, as with most Presidents. It was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B Hayes in 1880 and is made of mahogany and white oak timbers from British naval ship HMS Resolute.

Behind the desk are pictures of Trump's family, including an image of his daughter Ivanka as a child and of Donald and Melania with their son Barron when he as young, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Presidents can also make personal additions to the Oval Office, showing parts of their personalities.

President Barack Obama kept a bowl of apples in the room, Biden had chocolate chip cookies on hand and Trump has a valet button for Diet Coke deliveries installed on the desk.

Most of the changes to the Oval Office take place before the new President arrives, meaning that some alterations were underway this week while Biden was still in the building.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in a mid-air collision near DCA in Arlington, VA.

All major parts of DC plane and Black Hawk helicopter involved in mid-air collision recovered, investigators confirm

A Thai hostage who was freed from Hamas, Pongsak Thaenna, hugs a relative upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport

'We never gave up hope': Freed Thai hostages in tears of joy as they reunite with families after more than a year

Harry and Meghan at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games.

Meghan and Prince Harry cheer on Team UK at Invictus Games opening ceremony

Daisy the Labrador.

Stolen dog reunited with family after seven years

Irish boxer John Cooney.

Boxer dies from a brain bleed, from injury during championship fight

'Make Europe Great Again' Rally In Madrid

'Make Europe Great Again': Far-right European political leaders praise Trump at Madrid meeting

Kanye West.

Rapper Kanye West advertises t-shirt featuring a Nazi swastika, after 'antisemitic rampage' on X

Andrew Gwynne.

Minister sacked after posting he hoped 'pensioner who didn’t vote Labour would die' in WhatsApp group

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road.

Two arrested as protesters clash with police outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

'She's terrible': Trump takes swipe at Meghan, but will not deport Prince Harry

Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted by a crowd as they arrive in the Gaza Strip after being released from an Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

Emotional scenes in West Bank and Gaza as Palestinians reunited with their families after release from Israeli prisons

Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Bebe King.

'She was grateful for life': parents of Southport stabbing victims pay tribute to their children

Israeli hostage reunited with his family.

Emotional moment Israeli hostages reunite with families after being paraded on stage by Hamas

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road at the rally.

Protesters clash with police as thousands rally outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

The father of the Huszti sisters has said he believes his daughters were "kidnapped" and "cruelly killed"

Heartbroken father of sisters found dead in River Dee believes they were 'lured to their death'

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star breaks silence over death of mum found dead in French villa with her husband