President Donald Trump is back in the White House—and so is his gold-plated aesthetic.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has wasted no time putting his personal stamp on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Oval Office to the Rose Garden—and even, reportedly, considering a full-blown ballroom.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has reinstalled his infamous Diet Coke button, added more American flags, and covered the Oval with portraits of past presidents—including, yes, more of himself. Gold trim, gold trinkets, and Mar-a-Lago-style fixtures are showing up across the White House, and insiders say the former president has big plans: including possibly paving over the Rose Garden to mimic his Florida resort’s patio.
But what’s raising more eyebrows than the decor is who’s making the decisions—and who’s not.
Melania Trump, the former and current first lady, is reportedly nowhere near as involved this time around. According to The New York Times, Trump himself is taking over several duties traditionally handled by the first lady—selecting fixtures, managing reception decor, greeting White House visitors, and hosting events like Women’s History Month receptions.
“She’s not the one carefully selecting light fixtures for the White House residence, redesigning the Rose Garden, greeting tour groups in the East Wing or hosting receptions for Women’s History Month. He is,” The Times noted.
Melania, known for her low-profile approach to public life even during Trump’s first term, has been even more absent this time. Sources told The Times she has spent fewer than 14 days total at the White House since January. Her only recent public appearances include the White House Easter Egg Roll and a speech at the International Women of Courage Awards at the State Department.
Meanwhile, she’s kept busy elsewhere. In January, Melania launched her own cryptocurrency venture, and she’s reportedly the subject of an upcoming Amazon documentary about her life.
Critics and commentators alike have pointed out the unusual shift, with Trump essentially stepping into both the presidential and first lady roles. And while no laws dictate how the first lady’s responsibilities are assigned, the role has long held symbolic significance—from policy platforms to public appearances and, yes, interior design.
For now, Trump seems more than willing to fill the vacuum—gold drapes and all.
