Trump’s new order is an 'embarrassing' and wasteful commitment to nonsense

Decorations at the Oval Office during a meeting of President Donald Trump with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. July 21, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo

One of President Donald Trump's first moves after losing badly in the midterms was to sign an executive order concerning the White House, and as a new analysis for MS NOW argued, it is an "embarrassing" order that shows his continuing commitment to "nonsense."

Writing for the outlet on Wednesday morning, reporter and columnist Hayes Brown discussed the executive order Trump signed on Thursday of last week, authorizing the Oval Office to be recognized as a national monument. In doing so, Trump explained that future presidents would be prevented from making new changes to the famed room without congressional approval.

This move was widely interpreted as an effort to try to prevent the next president from removing the "overly ornate" gold decorations that Trump slathered the Oval Office in during his second term. Trump's obsession with building new monuments in Washington D.C., and redecorating the White House is reportedly part of his concern about securing his own legacy as president, leading to further concerns that his efforts will be torn down as soon as he leaves office.

Trump also claimed that undoing his changes to the White House would now require congressional approval from Congress in order to "stick," which Brown argued is a notion "inconsistent with his administration’s stance on executive authority."

"He has steadfastly refused to let Congress tie his hands on most matters," Brown wrote. "His proclamation is a blatant attempt to keep future presidents from doing what he himself is doing. Even if Congress did need to get involved, Trump seems not to have considered that the Democrats taking office soon will likely happily sign off on any efforts to undo... his gold-plated gussying."

In the wake of an election where voters said their biggest issues were the cost-of-living and Trump's self-enriching corruption, choosing to sign an order like this, Brown argued, was "quite a display of tunnel vision from a president whacked by voters who had every reason to believe he only cares about his own interests and not theirs."

"Friday’s spectacle felt like the White House staff placating a toddler on the verge of a tantrum," he concluded. "The document has no real impact on anything, but if it makes Trump feel better to sign a piece of paper, then hand one to him. Consider that a staffer took the time to write this proclamation, newly installed White House chief of staff Stephen Miller likely reviewed it, a communications aide drafted a fact sheet and a staff secretary scheduled a signing. It’s an incredible use of resources on exactly the kind of nonsense that has left the GOP rudderless but provided Trump a degree of escapism when he’s supposed to be working for the people."

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