Trump says Secret Service wants him to ‘take down’ Oval Office
The Secret Service has encouraged prior administrations to take steps to fortify the Oval Office, said four former officials.
President Donald Trump said that Secret Service officials have encouraged him to replace the current Oval Office, according to a new interview with Time magazine.
“‘Sir, we think the Oval Office should be taken down, and we’ll build a new one, sir,’” said Trump, quoting a Secret Service official. “I said, ‘My ass, you can’t build a new one. This is a special place.’”
The Secret Service has encouraged prior administrations to take steps to fortify the Oval Office, said four former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail sensitive security matters. Past presidents have declined to do so because it would require them to relocate.
A White House spokesman declined to offer further comment. A spokesman for the Secret Service did not immediately respond to questions about Trump’s remarks.
The current Oval Office was constructed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and become synonymous with high-profile events and speeches. Trump, who has redecorated it with gold as part of his sweeping changes to the White House, has called it the most intimidating office in the nation.
Trump has listened to the Secret Service on other projects to fortify the presidential grounds, such as plans to build a permanent fence around Lafayette Square, the public park across the street from the mansion. The president also has invoked national security reasons to defend his most controversial construction projects, including a new White House ballroom and his planned triumphal arch.
In the Time interview, the president said he was exploring the possibility of a new federal designation for the Oval Office, which he suggested could protect the office from being torn down and preserve his changes to it.
“I’ve been asking Susie for six months to give me a statement. Will we save this room? Will we make it a federal landmark?” Trump said, invoking his chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
The White House is already designated a National Historic Landmark, a federally conferred status that is intended to offer protections against sudden changes. But Congress exempted the White House from the National Historic Preservation Act, which has allowed presidents - including Trump - to swiftly remake parts of the building when they assume office.
“The discussion of making it a landmark is legally meaningless,” said Greg Werkheiser, founding partner of Cultural Heritage Partners, a law firm focused on historical preservation. He also questioned why Trump was invoking historical preservation after disregarding it to tear down the White House’s East Wing, pave over the Rose Garden and make other changes.
“There’s some irony of the president suggesting that he might use historic designation to protect the property after ignoring it so far,” Werkheiser said.
