In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has temporarily removed the historic Resolute Desk from the Oval Office for refinishing. This decision comes days after Elon Musk’s 4-year-old son, X Æ A-12, appeared to pick his nose and wipe it on the desk during a press conference at the White House.
The press conference and its aftermath
During the event, which focused on Musk’s role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), young X captured attention by picking his nose and seemingly wiping his fingers on the iconic desk. Despite this unconventional moment, Trump praised X as “a great guy—high IQ…high-IQ individual.”
The incident sparked widespread media coverage and public speculation about whether it influenced Trump’s decision to send the desk for refurbishment. Given Trump’s well-documented germaphobia—he once described himself as “very much of a germaphobe” and has criticized handshaking as “barbaric”—it is plausible that such an incident could have hastened its removal.
The replacement: C&O Desk
Trump announced on Truth Social that he had temporarily replaced the Resolute Desk with another historic piece: “A President, after election, gets a choice of 1 in 7 desks.” He continued:
“This desk, known as ‘C&O,’ which is also very well-known and was used by President George H.W. Bush and others, has been temporarily installed in White House while Resolute Desk is being lightly refinished—a very important job. This is a beautiful but temporary replacement!”
The C&O desk was originally crafted for Chesapeake & Ohio Railway proprietors in 1920 before being donated to the White House.
Historical significance of both desks
The Resolute Desk holds significant historical value; it was made from oak timbers salvaged from HMS Resolute—a British ship—and gifted by Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880. It has been used by nearly every U.S. president since its introduction into service during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
In contrast, while not as universally recognized across presidencies like Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter who used it elsewhere within their offices—the C&O desk still carries notable prestige having served under George H.W Bush directly within Oval Office confines.
As both desks hold symbolic importance within American political history—Trump’s actions reflect ongoing efforts at maintaining these symbols while addressing practical concerns such as maintenance needs or personal preferences regarding cleanliness standards amidst high-profile events involving unexpected guest behaviors like those exhibited recently at DOGE press briefings involving Elon Musk’s child presence alongside him there too!
