Under an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, the Oval Office in the White House has been designated a national monument. The measure aims to prevent structural changes that future presidents might seek to make to the space.
The BBC reports that the document grants this status to the official office of the president of the United States, which Trump has renovated during his term.
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Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said the national monument designation would mean that no one would be allowed to touch, destroy or demolish the office to build something with a slightly different shape in its place. He also criticized anyone who might seek to make changes of that kind.
Future presidents will still be able to change the Oval Office’s interior, however. Under the order, they may adjust the decor, choose furniture and carry out routine work needed for its operation or safety, provided they do not significantly alter the monument’s historic structure or architectural features.
Although the White House grounds already have National Historic Landmark status, intended to protect the building from sudden changes, the document calls for separate protection for the Oval Office. It acknowledges the existing legal protections for the White House but describes the office as a historic structure of national importance that merits special recognition and protection.
Trump said he and others like the Oval Office, describing it, like the White House, as a symbol of the country and its greatness.
According to the president, world leaders who have visited the White House in recent months have praised the decorative changes he has made to the space.
He argued that, before the work he undertook, both the White House and the Oval Office needed repairs. Describing their previous condition as badly damaged, Trump cited broken windows and cracks in the walls.
Still, many of the most noticeable changes are aesthetic. They include a large gold plaque outside the office bearing the words “Oval Office,” paving the Rose Garden and building a new helicopter landing pad.
The designation of the Oval Office as a national monument comes several months after Trump ordered the demolition of the entire East Wing of the White House. That work is part of a project that has faced legal challenges.
The project is proceeding without the approval of the US Congress and includes the construction of a new hall for receptions and ceremonies.
Trump insisted that, thanks to his order, no one would ever be able to destroy the space. It remains unclear, however, whether a future president could revoke the decision or whether it could be successfully challenged in court.
