Key facts
- Trump said the order would stop future presidents from making certain changes to the Oval Office.
- The order does not restrict a president's authority to redecorate, select furnishings or make ordinary operational and security modifications.
- Trump said any major modification would require approval from Congress.
- The order calls on the National Park Service to maintain the Oval Office's historic character and architectural integrity.
- Trump said the White House and the Oval Office had been in need of repairs before his changes.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, November 12, 2026, declaring the Oval Office a national monument, according to the BBC. Trump said the designation would prevent future presidents from making certain changes to the room.
The order does not restrict the president's authority to redecorate the monument, select furnishings or make ordinary operational and security modifications that do not substantially impair its historic structure or architectural character, according to the document as described by the BBC.
Trump told reporters the order would make it impossible for anybody ever to destroy the space. He said any major modification would require approval from Congress. The order calls on the National Park Service to maintain the Oval Office in a manner that protects its historic character, architectural integrity and association with the presidency.
The BBC reported it is unclear whether the action could be reversed by a future president or a legal challenge, noting that most executive orders can be overturned and that revoking a national monument designation has not yet been tested in court. The White House grounds are already designated a National Historic Landmark.