President seeks to make Oval Office a national monument to ensure designs are not ‘ripped down by stupid people’

Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday that he says will prevent future administrations from changing his design of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, spaces which he declared as national monuments that should be preserved.

In the days since his party suffered historic defeats in the midterm elections, the president has seemingly turned his attention to the many renovation projects he has begun across the nation’s capital. Sitting behind the Resolute Desk on Thursday, Trump declared the Oval Office a “national monument”.

Kirill Dimitrov, envoy to Russian president Vladimir Putin, delivered a gift to Melania Trump at the White House on Thursday to thank her for brokering a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russian forces in Oleshky, Ukraine. During the same event, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets gifted the first lady with the Order of Princess Olga, 1st Degree award.

US president rhapsodized about ballroom features for more than 20 minutes, with no mention of Democrats’ ‘blue wave’

• US midterms 2026 live – latest updates

• Send us your questions about the midterm results

• Track live results from all 50 states

Less than 24 hours after suffering historic party losses in the US midterm elections, Donald Trump gathered reporters and network TV cameras at the White House to congratulate his team.

“The whole thing is a miracle, and it’s all because of you,” the US president said into a microphone on Wednesday afternoon.

Donald Trump responded to JD Vance’s comments on the Iran war ultimately being the reason behind the catastrophic Republican losses in this year’s midterms, saying 'it's largely true'

• JD Vance says US war on Iran is ‘real reason’ Republicans lost midterm elections

Triumphal arch continues to face legal challenges as government says DC area project will take up to 39 months

The US justice department said on Tuesday that Donald Trump’s proposed 250ft (76 meter) triumphal arch in Washington would not be completed until after the end of his second term.

If it is given ⁠the go-ahead, the ⁠justice department said it ​expected an initial six to eight months of construction focused on excavation and foundation work that could begin as soon as Thursday, with above-ground construction ⁠beginning in May 2027 at the earliest. Total construction is anticipated to take 33 to 39 months, the government said.

US president shares delayed results of chaotic renovation on DC site as Americans prepare to head to the polls

Donald Trump unveiled the delayed results of his $14m renovation of Washington DC’s Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in what is expected to be his final press conference before voters head to the polls for the midterm elections.

On the eve of a consequential election day, with polls indicating that most voters feel the US president has grown too focused on building projects in the nation’s capital, he stood in front of the newly opened reflecting pool to discuss – in detail – changes to the pool’s pipe, the grass surrounding the area and granite.

Legal challenges to Donald Trump’s proposed memorial arch are mounting even as its construction is imminent

The legal challenges to Donald Trump’s proposed memorial arch are mounting, with the District of Columbia and Virginia suing in federal court on Saturday as the administration says construction could begin as early as next week.

There are now three lawsuits calling for a halt to potential work on a monument that would rise 250ft (76 meters) on a patch of grass off the bridge that spans the Potomac River, connecting the city with the Arlington national cemetery. That would make the arch 100ft taller (30 meters) than the Statue of Liberty is from its base to the top of the torch.