President Trump Participates in Signing Time, Nov. 5, 2026

President Trump is signing a proclamation designating the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room as a federal national monument, rendering them legally protected against demolition, destruction, or unauthorized modification.

• The measure makes the spaces a permanent landmark that cannot be removed, touched, or altered without Congress ratifying any changes.
• The President stated the move is intended to preserve the spaces "for future generations" and prevent "stupid people" from altering the historical integrity of the rooms.
• The Oval Office, originally built in 1909 by President William Howard Taft, was last significantly modified in 1934 for Franklin Delano Roosevelt to accommodate his mobility needs with a ramping system.
• The Cabinet Room is undergoing similar preservation status and was recently substantially upgraded.
  • Upgrades include the installation of brand-new chandeliers to replace previous "bad lighting" and lanterns.
  • The interior and walls will remain unchanged, ensuring the original aesthetic is maintained.
  • Any future modifications would legally require Congressional approval, which the President asserted Congress would be "smart enough" to deny for major structural changes.

The President outlined a strategy of maintaining high tariffs to incentivize the domestic construction of manufacturing plants.

• He claims over 3,000 factories are currently being built in the United States due to the threat of tariffs ranging from 50% to 300% on imported goods.
• The President asserted that removing tariffs immediately would cause all ongoing construction to halt, with companies opting to import products from nations like Japan, China, and South Korea instead.
• He cited a figure of $22.2 trillion as the highest national debt or economic metric ever recorded, attributing the influx of capital to the current tariff structure.
• The President predicted that once factories are built and operational, they would no longer be subject to tariffs, resulting in significantly lower consumer prices.

Regarding the war with Iran, the President claimed the U.S. has maintained control for seven months with only 18 American lives lost.

• He described the conflict as virtually an "occupation" and stated it would take Iran 25 to 30 years to rebuild the country due to the blockade.
• The President contrasted the current conflict with the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars, highlighting the low casualty count relative to the duration.
• He asserted that Iran has been responsible for 75,000 deaths over the past two months and 18 years of conflict, including the execution of protesters.
• The President indicated a potential decision to "certify" the outcome to ensure such an event never happens again, acknowledging this might require further destruction.

The President referenced a successful 48-minute military operation in Venezuela that he claimed resulted in no American casualties and the seizure of billions of dollars in oil assets.

• He contrasted this with his "war" efforts in Iran and the broader conflict in Russia and Ukraine.
• He cited a statistic of 25,000 deaths per month in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and predicted a resolution "pretty soon."
• The President stated he met with a Russian envoy earlier that day and anticipates a "big, beautiful agreement" involving Ukraine and potentially all of Europe.
• He confirmed the agreement would address civilian casualties on both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The President addressed recent domestic political and legal issues.

• He claimed the southern border has had zero illegal crossings for the last 18 months.
• He reported that the stock market has reached all-time highs, with a 74% increase under his administration compared to a 25% decline under President Biden.
• Regarding Alaska Senate elections, the President alleged voter fraud involving "fake Dan Sullivan" candidates that split the vote, claiming the "real" Dan Sullivan would win by thousands of votes if these fraudulent votes were reassigned.
• He dismissed criticism regarding updates to the White House exterior, stating he repaired cracked stone and broken windows rather than painting over them.
  • He noted that the restoration included making molds of undamaged original ornamentation from 1792.
  • He criticized the Obama administration for ignoring these structural issues.
  • He claimed a new underground military component (five stories) was constructed beneath the White House ballroom.

The President discussed future legislative and executive actions.

• He indicated he has not ruled out intervening in the House Republican leadership race between Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, describing both as "tremendous people."
• He affirmed that no staffing changes are planned for Pete Hegseth, describing him as doing a "fantastic job" in charge of the Department of War.
• He mentioned the President could theoretically revoke the national monument status for the Oval Office if a future President chooses to do so, stating "You can do whatever you want."
• He confirmed that the current 22 executive orders signed in the past two years were part of a record-setting number of actions.
• He predicted the Texas southern border security would continue under the new Democratic governor, though he reserved the right to reinstate his own policies if the state fails to do so.