After being sworn in as President once again, Donald Trump, along with his iconic “soda button,” returned to the Oval Office in the White House. Following the inauguration ceremony on Monday, the Oval Office used by past presidents was almost immediately renovated, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Many of the redecorating details in the Oval Office continued Trump’s style from his first term, including the portrait of George Washington above the fireplace, the bust of Winston Churchill nearby, and the famous Diet Coke button on the desk.
The button used to order Diet Coke service was reinstalled on Monday for Trump to use at any time. Trump had told the Financial Times in 2017 that visitors had mistaken this service button for the nuclear button, joking that “everyone gets a little nervous whenever I press that button.”
The Oval Office is one of the most iconic rooms in the White House, where presidents host foreign leaders, meet with congressional representatives, and deliver speeches. Presidents often personalize the office’s decor according to their preferences.
Reported by USA Today, Trump gave a speech at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, discussing the significance of this historic office. “We love the Oval Office – it’s where wars begin and end,” Trump said. “Everything starts here, and everything ends here.”
According to Fox News, Diet Coke is Trump’s beverage of choice, as he has abstained from alcohol for many years. His brother Fred Trump Jr. struggled with alcoholism and died of a heart attack in 1981 at the age of 43.
During a press conference in 2018, Trump shared, “I had a brother, Fred. He was a great guy, handsome guy, the best-looking guy, and a great personality, much better than mine. But he had a problem with alcohol. He told me, ‘Don’t drink, don’t drink.’ I respected his opinion and listened to him.”
Before the inauguration ceremony on Monday, Trump also received a specially designed Diet Coke commemorative bottle from Coca-Cola’s Chairman and CEO James Quincey. The bottle features the White House design and is labeled with “Presidential Inauguration,” “Donald J. Trump,” and “January 20, 2025.”
Reported by Newsweek, other changes in the Oval Office this time include the addition of a portrait of the 7th US President Andrew Jackson. Jackson’s political philosophy became the cornerstone of the Democratic Party, and Trump’s choice of his portrait may reflect respect for his historical influence.