In an unexpected twist, three sheets of decal paper appeared outside the White House, each sporting a striking gold cursive reading ‘The Oval Office.’ At first glance, this addition seemed to mirror President Trump’s well-known penchant for opulence and grandeur.

While his supporters embraced this touch of Trump-style elegance, critics were quick to draw comparisons to the font used by the Cheesecake Factory or the kind of décor typical in suburban homes. The debate over aesthetics versus kitsch was as fervent as ever.

However, just as suddenly as it appeared, the sign disappeared without a trace, leaving onlookers puzzled.

The question remains: What led to its removal?

The White House remains tight-lipped on the matter. However, a spokesperson did confirm that President Trump himself was responsible for crafting the lettering, adding another layer of intrigue to this curious episode.

‘He is very involved in these beautification projects… [President Trump] is making the White House beautiful and giving it the glory it deserves,’ the spokesperson said, adding that only those suffering from ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ would object.

Just months into his second stint in office, Trump has launched a sweeping makeover of the presidential residence — from the controversial new ballroom that required a demolition to a whirlwind of smaller, glitzier upgrades.

Last month, Trump bulldozed the White House’s East Wing — historically home to the First Lady’s offices — with little warning, kick-starting a race to finish the $300 million ballroom before his term ends. 

The Oval Office with a new sign up front is seen at the White House in Washington on November 5

But while supporters saw a flourish of Trumpian glamour, critics immediately likened the font to the Cheesecake Factory logo and the mass-produced décor found in the homes of suburban Americans

The Presidential Walk of Fame features similar gold lettering

Before the embossed gold font was unveiled, a paper version was seen showing where it would go

The portraits of US presidents (Presidential Walk of Fame) are seen outside the Oval Office, except former President Joe Biden, whose portrait is an autopen copy

An excavator sits on the rubble after the East Wing of the White House was demolished. The demolition is part of Trump’s plan to build a ballroom on the eastern side of the White House

He has remodeled the Lincoln bathroom in marble, added new sculptures, redesigned the Rose Garden, and installed a ‘Presidential Walk of Fame’ in ornate gold featuring portraits of recent presidents — except Joe Biden, who appears only as an autopen.

The aesthetic will feel instantly familiar to anyone who has walked through Mar-a-Lago’s gilded parlors or the opulent lobbies of Trump’s hotels and clubs. 

The same heavy gold accents, sweeping script signage, and palace-style décor dominate his properties from the Trump International Golf Club to the soaring Trump Palace building. 

To critics, the White House is being brought in line with the Trump brand: shimmering chandeliers, glittering shine, and maximalist luxury. To supporters, it’s long overdue grandeur.

Rick Paulus, who served as the White House’s chief calligrapher under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, tells the Daily Mail that, deep down, he suspects most staffers would be ‘against this crap.’

‘It is the people’s house… we are not pompous, or not supposed to be at least,’ Paulus said. ‘That is why we don’t have gilded halls, for a reason. It’s all about tradition – this guy doesn’t give a hoot about tradition. There is gold at the White House, little accents here and there, but it isn’t bling bling everywhere you look, with tacky lettering to identify that you are on the east colonnade.’

He recalled that during his tenure, First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush oversaw tasteful renovations — from the Blue Room to the East Wing’s calligraphy office — while presidents themselves generally stayed out of the décor business.

‘Presidents themselves probably had a small role in this stuff; they didn’t really spend this kind of time doing this. I would hope they have bigger things on their plate,’ Paulus said.

Gold leafing and decor in the White House sets the backdrop for many visits with foreign dignitaries 

Trump holds a rendering of the planned White House Ballroom extension during a meeting with Mark Rutte, secretary general of NATO

President Donald Trump hosts Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the Oval Office 

As for the president’s chosen font, Paulus doesn’t mince words. He calls it ‘pedestrian’ — both literally and figuratively.

‘Shelley’ is the sort of pedestrian font among scripts. Not particularly beautiful… scripts are better when they are narrower and compressed; this one is round. It is the most basic of the scripts,’ Paulus remarked.

And in his view, it shows.

‘If you want to do any branding at that level, you don’t go for the cheesiest and most accessible font, you have a designer design something that suits it, that makes it unique,’ he said. ‘They totally did not care about that. He saw gold and script and said it was amazing. I wouldn’t say he has a discerning eye.’