Trump says he’s declaring Oval Office and Cabinet Room national landmarks to prevent future changes

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday that he said would designate the White House’s Oval Office and Cabinet Room as national landmarks — a move he said would protect the two West Wing spaces from future changes.

The signing ceremony, which came on the heels of Republicans’ stunning midterm losses on Tuesday, was his third event of the week related to his construction or renovation projects in the nation’s capital — which have been largely unpopular with voters.

“It concerns the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room, very important spaces. And I’m going to be signing a document which will make them into a landmark for the ages,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, which he’s extensively gilded since returning to the White House in early 2025.

Trump said the administration would send the document to Congress.

“So we’re going to be declaring it a national monument, and we’re going to send it over to Congress, have it ratified,” he said.

“It’s a federal landmark — and when completed and when we get the documentation fully done, legally binding, it’ll make it impossible for anybody ever to destroy this incredible space,” he added.

CNN has reached out to the White House about the document and Trump’s intentions.

Trump has put his distinctive imprint on the two White House spaces. In the Oval Office alone, he’s added gold vermeil figurines on the mantle and medallions on the fireplace; gold eagles on the side tables; gilded Rococo mirrors on the doors; and, nestled in the pediments above the doorways, diminutive gold cherubs shipped in from Mar-a-Lago.

“I just thought it was very important that nobody be allowed to come in and take it down and try and do something with it,” Trump added on Thursday.

This is a developing story and will be updated.