- The Trumps’ substantial renovations to the White House are the couple’s way of “bringing Mar-a-Lago to Washington,” a source tells PEOPLE
- Donald and Melania both take great pride in their Florida home’s design, and thus have been eager to bring the same look to the White House, another source adds
- The sources’ insight comes after the Trumps paved over part of the Rose Garden, approved a giant ballroom addition to the East Wing, and added a slew of gold details to the building
Donald and Melania Trump are renovating the White House in Mar-a-Lago’s image.
Sources tell PEOPLE that the Trumps’ recent revisions to the White House have been implemented to more closely mirror the vibe of the first family’s Florida beach club.
Since returning to office in January, the president has replaced the White House Rose Garden lawn with a cement patio, approved a plan to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on top of the East Wing, and added various gold details — as well as Trump-themed art and merchandise — throughout the White House.
One social source in Florida tells PEOPLE that both Donald and Melania “would prefer to be in Palm Beach,” so instead they’re “bringing Mar-a-Lago to Washington.”
“Their plans for the White House are being implemented to remind them of Mar-a-Lago,” the source says. “That way, when they aren’t in Palm Beach they are there in the mind.”
Another source — a Mar-a-Lago club member — tells PEOPLE that Donald and Melania take much pride in their Florida home’s decor and style and enjoy showing it off, so it “makes sense” they’d make changes to the historic presidential building.
“Anytime Melania and Donald can make the White House feel more like Mar-a-Lago, they will,” the source says. “They love Mar-a-Lago. Not only is it their home, but Donald personally created much of the current decor and takes pride in living there and showing it to other people.”
A separate Mar-a-Lago regular tells PEOPLE that Donald was “never happy” with many of the spaces the U.S. president frequents — including parts of the White House and Camp David.
PEOPLE reached out to the White House and first lady’s office for comment.
The sources’ insight comes as Donald continues to alter the White House’s longstanding design and structure.
On Aug. 20, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt brought reporters to see the renovated Rose Garden, which has been converted from a grassy lawn to a cement patio and now features Mar-a-Lago’s notable yellow-and-white striped beach umbrellas.
In July, Trump announced his intention to begin constructing a giant, ornate ballroom where the East Wing sits, encrusted with gold details throughout its 90,000-square-foot interior.
And in months prior, Trump reportedly enlisted his Mar-a-Lago “gold guy,” cabinetmaker John Icart, to add gold details throughout the White House to better match the aesthetic of the Florida club.
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On top of the renovations, Trump has shuffled around other presidents and first ladies’ portraits to make room for heroic-looking paintings of himself around the White House.
Though every first family changes up White House decor to an extent, the Trumps’ dramatic alterations to the People’s House have sparked backlash, as the building’s tradition and history is expected to be heavily reflected throughout the design.
