Trump’s desk picks up yet another gold trinket as Artemis crew drops by

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump has yet another gleaming addition to his already crowded collection of gold keepsakes.

When Trump welcomed the Artemis II astronauts to the Oval Office on Wednesday, reporters quickly spotted a never-before-seen gold model of the moon sitting prominently on his desk. Nearby was also a model of the Space Reactor-1 Freedom Rocket.

The crew, including Americans Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen, had previously spoken with Trump mid-mission and were formally welcomed at the White House this week.

“Today, you’ve made history and made all America really proud,” Trump told the astronauts when they were roughly 250,000 miles from Earth. “Humans have never really seen anything quite like what you’re doing in a manned spacecraft. It’s really special.”

He also made it clear he wanted a closer meeting back on Earth. “I’ll ask Jared [Isaacman] to bring you over, and I’ll ask for your autograph, because I don’t really ask for autographs much, but you deserve that, you really are something. Everybody’s talking about this," he remarked.

The moon model was later confirmed as a gift from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, while the rocket model is only on loan from NASA. NASA creative director Tiffany Coutris even gave the display a nod online. “Trump’s Golden Moon is looking pretty great on that desk," she wrote on X.

More gold keeps rolling in

The lunar keepsake is just the latest addition to Trump’s expanding stash of gilded gifts.

During a state visit by King Charles III earlier this week, Trump received two more gold-themed items. On Monday, the British ambassador presented him with a large, gold-framed coin marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

At Tuesday’s state dinner, the King gifted the President a bell from the submarine HMS Trump. 

“I am delighted to present to you as a personal gift, the original bell which hung on the conning tower of your valiant namesake,” Charles said. The vessel was launched in 1944 and played a role in the Pacific theater during World War II. 

“May it stand as a testament to our nation’s shared history and shining future. Should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring," the monarch quipped.

A gold makeover inside and out

Inside the Oval Office, the gold theme is hard to miss. A gold coaster, a challenge coin, and a golden eagle statue are all part of the display, alongside newly added portraits in gold frames and decorative embellishments across the walls. Even the area above the fireplace now features gold trophies.

The upgrades don’t stop at the Oval Office door. Trump has extended the look outside by adding gold accents and signage, while plans for future projects lean more or less into the same aesthetic.

Renderings of his proposed $400 million East Wing ballroom show a space filled with gold chandeliers and detailing. His planned triumphal arch for the nation’s 250th anniversary also features gold accents and statues, including two golden eagles flanking a winged Lady Liberty. 

Meanwhile, the golden gifts keep coming. 

Recently, a 15-foot bronze statue of Trump coated in gold leaf was unveiled at his National Doral Miami golf club ahead of the PGA Tour’s Cadillac Championship this week.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino even created the FIFA Peace Prize specifically to present to Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

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