Before becoming president, Trump built a casino empire. Now, his Oval Office decor has sparked comparisons to his past bankruptcy struggles. See how the “gold-plated” office design has caught attention.
Before Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States, he was a well-known businessman, dominating the real estate market and building an empire along Atlantic City’s iconic boardwalk.
Trump’s empire included the Trump Plaza Hotel (1984), Trump’s Castle (later renamed Trump Marina), and the massive Trump Taj Mahal Casino (1990). But his success was fleeting, with Trump Entertainment Resorts filing for bankruptcy three times between 2004 and 2014. By 2016, most of his casinos were closed, leaving behind derelict buildings along the boardwalk.
However, Trump’s past financial woes seem to have resurfaced in the form of his Oval Office decor.
The ‘Gold-Plated’ Oval Office
Since moving into the White House, Trump has made some notable changes to the Oval Office, giving it an extravagant makeover. The decor features gold-plated fixtures, furniture, and memorabilia, standing in stark contrast to the more muted, minimalist style of his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Trump’s favorite color, gold, dominates the room. Picture frames, ornaments, and even the fireplace have been adorned with the glitzy finish. Among the embellishments, a FIFA World Cup replica trophy (which Trump requested after being denied the original) stands among gold-filled trinkets, making the room feel more like a luxurious casino than a place for presidential affairs.
The Criticism: A Reflection of Bankruptcy?
The change in decor has sparked significant criticism. Some have even suggested that the lavish gold-plated look of the Oval Office mirrors the same taste that led Trump to bankruptcy with his casinos. Podcaster Brian Allen shared before and after images of the office, remarking on Twitter:
“Not hard to see how he bankrupted so many casinos. These are the same rooms, btw.”
Many agreed with this assessment, with one commenting:
“Reverent dignity replaced with gaudy insecurity.”
Another added:
“Countless critical meetings have been held there. It is a place of work, not a leisure palace or a gaudy casino.”
While some critics were harsh, a few defended the redesign, with one person saying:
“The picture on the left looks like it was taken in a funeral home. I do think he went a little overboard on the gold, but it was an improvement.”
Trump’s Defense of the Redesign
In typical Trump fashion, the former president defended his lavish makeover of the Oval Office. Speaking on the addition of gold and the renovation of the space, Trump said:
“When we took it over, it was dirty, not clean. I immediately changed the chair and had this beautiful desk renovated… This was not appropriate for the Oval Office when I took over.”
Trump also pointed out that the gold-plated decor was an upgrade, adding that he couldn’t stress enough how much “solid gold” costs, suggesting the expensive aesthetic was necessary to reflect the office’s importance.]
The FIFA World Cup Trophy
The inclusion of a FIFA World Cup trophy replica further fueled the gold-plated theme. Trump joked about the expense of gold while making his case to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, saying,
“You see the way this is looking nice? I can’t tell you how much that gold costs—a lot of money. There’s nothing like gold, and there’s nothing like solid gold.”
While Trump believes the changes were a much-needed improvement, critics continue to voice concerns that the decor is excessive and lacks the gravitas expected from the Oval Office.
