Trump considers the Oval Office a national landmark

US President Donald Trump signed an order on Thursday to classify the Oval Office as a national landmark, a move that reflects his intensified interest in beautifying the White House, despite the heavy defeat suffered by his Republican Party in the midterm elections.

Trump's critics accused the president of ignoring voters' concerns about war with Iran and the cost of living ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections, and instead focusing excessively on multiple construction and renovation projects in the capital.

The day after the Democrats won the majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate, Trump almost ignored the result and focused on reviewing the construction work in the new ballroom he is building in the White House.

This time, Trump's focus was on the Oval Office, which he has decorated with gold decorations since his return to power last year, and on the Cabinet Room next to it.

He said that this declaration “will make it impossible for anyone to destroy this amazing place,” and will also prevent future presidents from carrying out any construction work in the two chambers.

He added in statements to reporters, “It will not be possible to remove it, destroy it, touch it, or do anything else about it, as it is, in fact, a national landmark.”

However, this move fueled speculation that Trump may be preparing to conduct more work in the West Wing, after several hints at the possibility of changing the famous briefing room located near the Oval Office.

Trump's signing ceremony of the executive order in the Oval Office was not broadcast on major American networks, and he had prevented CNN from joining the regular media group dedicated to covering White House events.

US President Donald Trump expected, on Thursday, to reach a “very big” agreement with Russia that is not limited to Ukraine only, but may include “all of Europe,” after meeting with an envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the White House.

Trump revealed that he held an unscheduled meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, who was participating in talks with Ukrainian officials hosted by US First Lady Melania Trump at the White House.

“I can't tell you what I discussed,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. But I'm just telling you that there will be an agreement, and it will be a big agreement.”

“It will be very big,” he added. It will include more than Ukraine, and I can even say that it may include all of Europe. “It will be a great agreement and everyone will be happy.”

Trump indicated that he did not meet with the Ukrainian officials who were present at the White House on Thursday.

The US President's statements are likely to reinforce European fears that Trump will push Ukraine to conclude an agreement that is not in its interest to end the war.

The capitals of NATO countries are also monitoring developments to see whether the US President will meet Putin's extreme demands to limit American influence in Europe, after Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of withdrawing his forces from the continent.

Trump, who pledged to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office in January 2025, has previously promoted imminent peace agreements that did not materialize.

On Thursday, Melania Trump called for a “permanent” ceasefire in Ukraine, during a press conference at the White House attended by representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian sides. Trump considered that his meeting, along with a six-day truce in the besieged Ukrainian city of Oleshki that the US First Lady announced last month, could constitute a step towards reaching a broader agreement.