In the aftermath of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s sit down chat at The White House, the Mirror takes a look at the changes POTUS has made to the Oval Office, including the return of that famous Diet Coke button
The Oval Office is one of the most famous and recognisable offices in the world and – like many aspects of his presidency – President Donald Trump has put his own stamp on it.
For generations of presidents, the Oval Office has been a place to hold their most important conversations, to focus on the most pressing issues of the day, and to address the American public during times of crisis. And for President Trump, it’s also a place where he can summon a fizzy drink at the touch of a button.
Yes, the widely discussed ‘Diet Coke button’ from President Trump’s first term in office is now back in action, after President Joe Biden got rid of his during his own time during the Resolute desk.
The Wall Street Journal last month reported that the red button, concealed witin a wooden box, was back on President Trump’s desk shortly after his second inauguration ceremony. Whenever POTUS gets the craving for a Diet Coke pick me up, all he has to do is press the button, and a White House butler will bring one straight to him.
Speaking with a Financial Times reporter back in 2017, the 78-year-old president admitted: “Everyone does get a little nervous when I press that button.”
As is tradition, incoming presidents tend to switch up the Oval Office decor to suit their personal tastes, from furniture to drapery and even carpets. They may also change up the artwork, choosing from the White House’s expansive selection, or borrowing from museums.
President Trump’s revamped Oval Office includes a portrait of the first US President George Washington, displayed over the fireplace, as well as portraits of firat postmaster general Benjamin Frankin, first Treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton, and primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson.
President Trump has also brought back a bust of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and well as ‘The Bronco Buster’ sculpture, by Frederic Remington – an artist known for his depictions of cowboys. New silver eagle figures have also been spotted above the mantel.
In terms of furnishings, President Trump has swapped out President Biden’s blue carpet for the neutral one he favoured during his first time in office. He has also changed up the Oval Office’s coffee table, chucking out President Biden’s chocolate chip cookies in favour of a floral bouquet and a square gold paperweight, bearing the word “Trump”.
However, President Trump has kept some things in place, including a bust of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., and the gold curtains he’d chosen during his first presidency, which President Biden had opted to keep in place.
This comes as Mirror Political Editor Lizzy Buchan reports back from Keir Starmer and President Trump’s recent sit-down in The Oval Office, where she had a “ringside seat”. Remarking that the “room is much smaller than it appears on TV”, Buchan painted a scene of at times “overwhelming” noise, where President Trump appeared to “be in his element” as he fielded questions.
Buchan wrote: “After the preamble from both leaders, Mr Trump leaned forward in his plush chair and started to take questions – something he clearly enjoys. He fired off newsworthy statements, suggesting the UK could escape his tariff threats and he would back a deal for the UK to hand over the remote Chagos Islands to Mauritius – something that right-wing politicians have been up in arms about in the UK.
“But his slippery side was on show when he tried to pretend he’d never called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a ‘dictator’. And while he said plenty on Ukraine, at the end of the meeting it was clear that Mr Starmer would be leaving without the security guarantee he came for.”
She continued: “The President dominated the ornate room with his big physical presence and his even bigger ego. He was flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Foreign Secretary David Lammy, security adviser Jonathan Powell, and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney sat across from their US counterparts.
“The sheer number of officials and politicians sitting silently as he held court made it feel like it was all theatre. But it suited Mr Starmer to let Mr Trump do the talking.
“We were turfed out before the real talks began and rushed back to the White House press briefing room to start furious writing up the extraordinary meeting. But judging by the mood of the press conference afterwards, Mr Starmer’s charm offensive has worked – at least for now.”
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