The People’s House museum in Washington, located near the White House, has unveiled an updated replica of the Oval Office reflecting the design choices President Donald Trump made during a potential second term. The exhibit, which first opened in September 2024 with President Joe Biden’s Oval Office décor, was recently transformed to mirror Trump’s more opulent and gold-accented style.
Visitors to the museum can now see a space heavily adorned with gold-hued onlays, ornate vases, and approximately two dozen portraits framed in gilded gold, replicating the elaborate aesthetic Trump brought to the White House’s most well-known room. The replica is the same size as the actual Oval Office, often surprising visitors with the room’s relatively compact dimensions.
Luke Boorady, managing director of The People’s House: A White House Experience, emphasized the exhibit’s goal of connecting people to the symbolic significance of the Oval Office, which he called “the office of the American people.” The replica includes detailed reproductions of numerous design elements, including wall appliqués, tabletop decorations, and notable furnishings such as two mirrors and a copy of the Declaration of Independence, all consistent with Trump’s actual office.
The museum’s makeover involved several specialized teams across North America. Designers traveled to the White House during Trump's absences to capture the intricate details. Experts in North Carolina recreated the ornate wall appliqués, while a specialist from Indianapolis provided 3D-scanned and printed objects. California artisans carved many of the gold frames by hand, and teams from Canada and Virginia contributed by replicating vases and other decorative items.
Trump, a former real estate developer, has made significant changes to the White House throughout his time in office, aiming to leave a lasting imprint on the nation’s capital. Aside from the Oval Office’s lavish renovation, he converted the lawn near the Rose Garden into a patio reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He also installed an additional row of presidential portraits along the colonnade connecting the residence to the West Wing, renovated various rooms including the Palm Room and a bathroom connected to the Lincoln Bedroom, and undertook restoration work on the North Portico’s columns.
One of Trump’s most ambitious projects is a $400 million ballroom under construction after the East Wing was demolished. The president has stated that the project “relaxes” him, underscoring his personal investment in reshaping the White House grounds.
Trump’s connection to the White House has at times blurred lines between personal and official domain. During a recent dispute over media access, he referred to the White House as “my — the people’s house,” reflecting a strong sense of ownership over the presidential residence.
The replica Oval Office’s updates were completed last week by a 25-person crew working through a five-day stretch to finalize the second-term design. While the real Oval Office’s gold finishes are achieved with gilded gold leaf, the museum’s replica uses a specialized paint solution to simulate the effect.
This latest transformation of the Oval Office exhibit offers the public a detailed look at the decorative preferences that defined President Trump’s tenure, providing a nuanced perspective on how successive administrations imprint their personalities onto the historic executive office.