"Turn My Oval Office Into a National Monument": Trump's Obsession with Leaving His Mark

U.S. President Donald Trump is focusing heavily on leaving his mark across Washington, D.C.

On the 5th local time, President Trump signed a proclamation ordering that his Oval Office and the Cabinet Room in the White House be preserved in their current state.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, President Trump said, "We are designating this place as a national monument," adding, "No one will be allowed to touch it."

Since taking office, President Trump has decorated the Oval Office in gold, a style he favors.

Yesterday, President Trump inspected the construction site of the large banquet hall being built in the East Wing of the White House.

It was his only public appearance on the day following the confirmation of a crushing defeat in the midterm elections, and it was an unscheduled visit.

On November 2, the day before the election, President Trump held a press conference at the reflecting pool in front of the White House as his final campaign schedule.

Media outlets responded with puzzlement.

He boasted of his achievement in renovating the large reflecting pool located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument in downtown Washington.

A former real estate developer, President Trump is particularly fond of grand, ornate buildings and symbols.

He even paved the private helicopter landing pad on the front lawn of the White House with marble, showcasing it to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to the United States last month.

An avid golfer, President Trump also pushed forward with unauthorized tree-felling to transform a public golf course in downtown Washington into a luxury course.

This effort has been put on hold by a court ruling.

Attempts by President Trump to leave his name in various places have also continued.

A prime example was his push to add his name alongside the Kennedy Center, a performing arts venue in Washington.

This move was likewise halted by a court.

Regarding the background behind why President Trump is so obsessed with physical legacies, differing perspectives coexist: some interpret it as a desire to go down in history as a great president after leaving office, while others attribute it to the DNA of a real estate developer.

CNN previously reported the analysis of a source stating, "The East Wing banquet hall is something even a successor president will not be able to tear down, and that is a lasting impact left by Trump," adding, "What he focuses on is the issue of leaving a legacy."

Construction on a large triumphal arch in Washington, which President Trump intends to establish as another legacy, is likely to be pushed forward soon.

The National Capital Planning Commission, chaired by one of his aides, is expected to hold a meeting on that day local time and approve the construction, according to the Associated Press.

The arched monument, standing approximately 76 meters tall, is one of President Trump's signature projects.

It has faced opposition and lawsuits over concerns that it will cause traffic congestion, clash with the surrounding landscape, and pose safety risks to aircraft operating to and from nearby airports.

(Photo: Getty Images Korea)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.