Trump’s favorite place is one of the key influences behind White House renovations, reveals insider

Sources revealed Donald Trump was 'never happy' with certain parts of the White House and other presidential retreats
PUBLISHED AUG 28, 2025
Sources said the Trumps’ White House renovations drew inspiration from Mar-a-Lago’s signature vibe (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sources said the Trumps’ White House renovations drew inspiration from Mar-a-Lago’s signature vibe (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump’s approach to redecorating the White House is drawing attention and criticism for its over-the-top style.

An insider now claims the president’s renovations are modeled after one of his favorite properties: Mar-a-Lago.

Insider reveals Donald Trump’s inspiration behind White House renovations

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 18: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump is hosting President Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House for a bilateral meeting and later an expanded meeting with European leaders to discuss a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Since taking office, Trump has made quiet but noticeable changes to the historic residence, reportedly to remind himself and his family of their Palm Beach estate.

“Their plans for the White House are being implemented to remind them of Mar-a-Lago,” the source told People. “That way, when they aren’t in Palm Beach, they are there in the mind.”

Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s 20-acre Florida club and residence, is known for its opulent gold finishes, chandeliers, and sprawling ballrooms. Similar design choices are now surfacing at the White House, including gold-trimmed walls and fireplaces in the Oval Office.

Fury erupts as Trump approves $200 million gold ballroom for White House after gutting health care(Getty Images)(Whitehouse.gov)
Donald Trump approved $200 million gold ballroom for the White House (Getty Images, Whitehouse.gov)

But not all of Trump’s updates have been well-received. His decision to replace the historic Rose Garden lawn with a cement patio complete with striped umbrellas reminiscent of his Florida club sparked backlash from preservationists.

Plans for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, modeled after Mar-a-Lago’s Grand Ballroom, have also raised eyebrows. Trump has promised to fund the massive addition himself.



 

“Anytime Melania and Donald can make the White House feel more like Mar-a-Lago, they will,” a club member told People. “Not only is (Mar-a-Lago) their home, but Donald personally created much of the decor and takes pride in living there and showing it to other people.”

Donald Trump unhappy with certain parts of White House

According to a Mar-a-Lago regular, President Trump has long been dissatisfied with some of the official residences and retreats traditionally used by US presidents. The source revealed that Trump was “never happy” with certain parts of the White House and Camp David, finding them underwhelming compared to his personal taste and lifestyle. 



 

On August 20, press secretary Karoline Leavitt showcased a major transformation of the Rose Garden to reporters. Once a lush green lawn with historic roots, the space has now been replaced by a concrete patio. The garden also features yellow-and-white striped umbrellas, a signature look borrowed directly from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

Trump has reportedly ordered a reshuffling of the portraits of past presidents and first ladies, moving many of them aside to create space for oversized, dramatic paintings of himself. While every first family is known to personalize White House interiors, critics argue that the Trump-era modifications go far beyond tradition.

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