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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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Gold signage spotted at the White House has attracted scrutiny on social media, with one comment saying it made the Executive Mansion look like "a cheap casino."
A viral post online shows a gold sign reading "The Presidential Walk of Fame" in the West Colonnade of the White House, the same day images of "The Oval Office" in gold lettering appeared on X.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
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Why It Matters
President Donald Trump's changes to the White House, especially the renovation of the East Wing, have proved contentious, with some supporters lauding the move and noting that other presidents have also altered the property, while others raising concerns that the changes are unnecessary and harm a historical landmark.
The White House has said the renovations have been funded privately and will not use taxpayer money.
What To Know
Molly Ploofkins, an X user with over 127,000 followers, posted the image of the gold sign on the platform.
While some online questioned the picture's authenticity, a photo posted by Republican Wyoming Senator John Barrasso shows part of the gold sign on the same walkway from a different angle.
An image shared on X in September also shows the lettering being prepared for application.
In response to Ploofkin's post, one X user said: "That is just awful. It looks like a cheap casino."
Another wrote: "Now it looks like a bridal shop outlet."
A third wrote: "Just horrible taste level."
It comes after Trump created a "Presidential Walk of Fame" in the West Wing Colonnade with pictures of past presidents on the wall, except Joe Biden. Instead of featuring his predecessor, Trump placed a picture of an autopen in a nod to Trump's allegation that Biden wasn't making decisions at the end of his term in office.
He also decided to demolish the East Wing to create a new ballroom that could accommodate nearly 1,000 people at a seated event. He had criticized the previous space for being too small for hosting international dignitaries and not fitting the formality of White House events.
Meanwhile, CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins posted a photo on X on Wednesday morning of another gold sign at the White House that reads “The Oval Office.” The sign is against a white background and has gold, cursive lettering.
Trump also added gold details to internal and external walls, installed new flagpoles on both lawns, and replaced the grass in the Rose Garden with a stone patio. He has also renovated the bathroom in the Lincoln Bedroom, changing the art deco green tiles to black and white marble.
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What People Are Saying
White House communications director Steven Cheung, in a post on X in October: “Construction has always been a part of the evolution of the White House. Losers who are quick to criticize need to stop their pearl clutching and understand the building needs to be modernized.”
What Happens Next
Trump is legally permitted to demolish the East Wing under current federal property rules, according to the National Capital Planning Commission’s chair, but formal approval to begin constructing the new White House ballroom has not yet been granted.
Update, 11/05/2025, 8:00 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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