On Thursday, 5 November 2026 (25 Jumada Al‑Awwal 1448 H), U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order designating the Oval Office as a national monument. The order, issued from the White House, declares the office “an irreplaceable symbol of the American presidency” and prohibits any future removal, alteration, or destruction of the space. Trump said the designation would “make it impossible for anyone to destroy this amazing place” and would prevent future presidents from undertaking construction projects in the Oval Office or the adjacent Cabinet Room. The move comes amid criticism that Trump has prioritized White House renovations over pressing domestic concerns. Opponents argue that the president has ignored voters’ worries about the war with Iran and rising living‑costs in the run‑up to the midterm elections, which the Republican Party lost heavily. Trump’s focus on new construction projects in the capital has been highlighted by the ongoing build‑out of a new celebration hall at the White House, a project that has drawn scrutiny after Democrats gained majorities in both the House and Senate. The signing ceremony was not broadcast by major U.S. networks. Trump reportedly barred CNN from joining the routine media coverage of the event, and no footage of the ceremony was released to the public. In a separate development on the same day, Trump announced that he expects to reach a “very large” agreement with Russia that would extend beyond Ukraine. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after a private meeting with Russian envoy Vladimir Putin’s representative, Kirill Dmitriev, Trump said he could not disclose the details but described the deal as “big” and potentially covering “more than Ukraine, possibly all of Europe.” He added that the agreement would bring “joy to everyone.” Trump’s comments come after a brief, unscheduled meeting with Ukrainian officials that took place at the White House, as well as a press conference in which First Lady Melania Trump called for a permanent ceasefire in Ukraine. The president also referenced a six‑day ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky, announced by Melania a month earlier, as a step toward a broader settlement. The statement has raised concerns among European leaders, who fear that a U.S.‑Russia accord could undermine NATO’s influence in the region and potentially lead to the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe—a possibility Trump has hinted at in the past. The agreement, if it materializes, would be the first major U.S.‑Russia deal since Trump pledged to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office in January 2025, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled.