The Oval Office experienced a notable transformation during Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president. Highlighting this overhaul is the return of his favorite feature, the Diet Coke button, a small red device mounted on the Resolute Desk that summons a butler with a chilled glass of the beverage, not to be confused with the nuclear launch button, as Trump humorously noted.

According to The Daily Beast, other significant artifacts have made their way back into the presidential office, including portraits of key figures from American history, such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, and Andrew Jackson. Jackson's portrait had previously faced removal under President Biden due to his controversial historical actions, specifically the Indian Removal Act.

The incorporation of Jackson’s portrait, as well as a bust of Winston Churchill and a sculpture by Frederic Remington titled "The Bronco Buster," is indicative of Trump’s preference for historical symbols of leadership. However, he opted to retain some items introduced by Biden, including a portrait of Benjamin Franklin and a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. Trump’s return to the Oval Office reflects a revival of his previous aesthetic choices, grounded in historical narratives.

Amidst a chilly inauguration day filled with pageantry, Trump's reopening of the Oval Office has reignited conversations about his presidency's legacy, particularly regarding which historical figures and symbols should adorn the office walls.

For more on this transformation, read the full articles on The Daily Beast and The Wall Street Journal.