The Golden Oval
What in the holy rococo hell is this?
I’m about to major in the minors. Mere moments ago, Beth and I argued that we shouldn’t do this with the Trump administration. We shouldn’t waste our ire on stories about Rose Garden renovations because that’s what Trump wanted us to do, and it distracted from the issues that needed our full attention.
But you know what? Trump is flailing majorly. The Pentagon is a dumpster fire of scandal. DOGE has created drama but no real savings. The global economic whiplash created by Trump’s fickle instincts has left the markets reeling, and voters are not pleased. A new poll finds that only 37% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy - his lowest rating EVER. Even polling on immigration shows Trump barely above water on what has historically been his strongest issue.
Oh! AND yesterday, federal judges handed him losses on four of his biggest issues: voting, immigration, deportation, and education.
What I’m saying here is Donald has given me a little space to bitch and moan about something that ultimately doesn’t matter but that is royally pissing off.
I want to talk about the Oval Office.
Close your eyes. Picture the Oval Office. You’re probably picturing something like this.
This is President Nixon’s office from 1969. The colors change, the couches change, some presidents have more muted tones than others (Obama had tan couches I absolutely hated, for example), but the overall vibe remains the same.
President Trump’s vibe during his first term - reasonable.
President Trump’s vibe during his second term - still on the right track. Looks like they even recycled the couches. Good for them.
Then, things began to change. Reporting is that he brought in his “gold guy” from Mar-a-Lago, and this is what it looks like now.
What in the holy rococo hell is this? I caught a glimpse during Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit and could not get over the transformation. Gone is the carefully calibrated federal style that has driven presidential aesthetics for hundreds of years. Now, it’s King Trump from ceiling to carpet. Gone is the symbolic sculptures and paintings. Now, it’s maximalism for maximalism’s sake. Gone is the Swedish Ivy that’s sat on the Oval Office mantel since Kennedy. Now, it’s a collection of gold objects with little to no historical significance.
After signing a presidential memorandum on “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture,” he has transformed the Oval Office into Versailles.
My issues with this are numerous:
First, the restraint most Oval Office occupants exhibit while decorating is a reflection of the reality that they are in this office for only a short time to do the work of the American people. It’s not a royal court. It’s a workplace for democracy.
Second, why is a president tackling problems both inherited and created spending so much damn time decorating and then giving tours of the finished product!? Doesn’t he have anything better to do?! Apparently, now he’s busy meeting about the Rose Garden renovations. Is this truly a reflection of the proper prioritization of the leader of the free world?
And last, it’s next-level tone deaf to be doing your very best Marie Antoinette when a majority of Americans are reporting for the first time since 2001 that they believe their economic situation is worsening.
On our trip to DC, we attended the White House Spring Garden Tour and went on a tour of the White House. Some expressed surprise that we would go to Trump’s White House. To which I responded, That’s not his house, that’s MY HOUSE. That is the People’s House, and dousing it in gold doesn’t change that. The anger I feel about the Oval Office’s tacky transformation is reflective of the sense of ownership I feel over that room.
It might be minor, but it’s not nothing.
Spicy Pantsuit Politics
Beth has been reading 2024 campaign retrospectives, and she and Sarah had More to Say about the Democrats’ loss.
Fair Warning: this bonus episode is quite spicy (and also explicit)
Is Biden to blame for Democrats losing in 2024? Unequivocally yes.
On today’s Spicy bonus episode, Sarah and Beth examine the tension between candidates and staffers in Democratic campaigns, the Biden administration’s hamstringing of Vice President Harris, Trump's authenticity, and why Democrats should say what they actually think more often. Also, Beth shares her spicy take that the Democratic Party is learning all th…
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Something Nice to Take You Into the Weekend
Kati sent us this on Instagram, and while we recognize concerning and increasing signs of constitutional crisis (this is not the nice thing, but it is important), this reel made me laugh (which is also important) -Maggie
What We’re Reading and Listening To This Week
Habits of the Heart Slow Read
Last year, we loved doing a slow read of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America with you all (you can find all those episodes listed about halfway down this post). It was so fun and such a great way to reflect on America without being tethered to the current news cycle.
It’s not too late to catch up on Habits of the Heart, we’ll be sharing our conversation on Part 1 next week!
Beth: If you’d like to read Beth’s notes about her reading (that make a great companion to yesterday’s Spicy Pantsuit Politics), you can see them here.
Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump's Return to Power by Alex Isenstadt
Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes
Alise: Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
Maggie: How to Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price
When all the kids (who are adults) were here for Easter, I mentioned that the White House was using 30,000 real eggs for the Easter egg roll this year and my son’s girlfriend said that had a real let them eat cake energy. So the bedazzled Oval Office tracks. Do we think DJT knows how it all turned out for Marie Antoinette?
That reel! Hahaha I love it so much. It does astound me that Trump likes to decorate in tacky gold to "show off his wealth" but his clothes always look so frumpy and ill-fitting, which makes him look poor. I can tell you that if I suddenly became wealthy my wardrobe and tailoring would be near the top of the list.