And so, the latest saga in the never-ending series of "what is Donald Trump thinking?" moments has finally arrived. Because, you know, what’s more normal than asking to move the Declaration of Independence into the Oval Office? I mean, who needs the National Archives Building in Washington D.C. when you can have it in the Oval Office, right? (I guess that’s what happens when you’re trying to make America great again, one historical document at a time).
But, I suppose it’s not like the president was asking to move the original document or anything (although, initially, that was the plan – because, why not?). No, no, his advisers were quick to point out the logistical and economic challenges of such a move, not to mention the security measures needed to protect it (you know, the usual: oxygen-free, argon-filled case, retracting into the wall at night, the whole shebang). And, of course, there are restrictions on how often doors can be opened due to light damage to the parchment (because, let’s be real, we can’t have our historical documents getting all worn out from people actually looking at them).
And then, Trump had an epiphany – why not move one of the historical copies of the declaration instead? I mean, it’s not like it’s going to be any less significant or anything (please note the heavy sarcasm here). According to The Atlantic, the White House already has at least one historical copy of the declaration, so I guess that’s a relief (one less thing for Trump to, you know, "acquire"). But, seriously, what’s next? Are we going to start moving the Constitution into the Oval Office too? (Just think of the possibilities – we could have our very own "Trump Constitution" – now that’s a thought).
Now, I know what you’re thinking – what’s the big deal about moving some old documents around? Well, for starters, it’s not just about moving documents – it’s about the principle of the thing. I mean, these are historical artifacts we’re talking about, not decorations for the Oval Office (although, I suppose that’s exactly what Trump is trying to do – decorate the Oval Office with a little bit of American history). And, let’s not forget the fact that Trump has been eager to change the White House’s landscape since returning to office – from paving the Rose Garden to resemble the patio at his Mar-a-Lago club to building a new ballroom on White House grounds (because, priorities).
But, hey, at least Trump is interested in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence – he’s even created a "Task Force 250" to plan the celebrations (because, you know, that’s exactly what we need – another task force). And, who knows, maybe we’ll even get to see a special edition of the declaration, complete with Trump’s signature and a foreword by… well, who knows, maybe even Trump himself.
And, as a side note, can someone please explain to me why we need to pave the Rose Garden to resemble the patio at Mar-a-Lago? I mean, what’s wrong with the current design? Is it not "Trump-esque" enough? (I guess that’s what happens when you’re trying to make the White House look like your own personal golf course). But, I digress – back to the declaration of independence and Trump’s latest antics.
But, in all seriousness, this whole ordeal just goes to show how out of touch Trump is with, well, reality. I mean, who tries to move the Declaration of Independence into the Oval Office? (Oh wait, I forgot – Trump does). And, what’s even more concerning is the fact that his advisers had to talk him down from doing something so absurd (although, I suppose that’s what happens when you surround yourself with yes-men and sycophants).
And, finally, can we please just take a moment to appreciate the irony of it all? I mean, Trump wants to move the Declaration of Independence into the Oval Office, but he can’t even be bothered to read it (I’m pretty sure he’s never even read the Constitution either). It’s like he’s trying to own a piece of American history without actually understanding what it means (but, hey, that’s just par for the course with Trump, right?).
In conclusion, this whole ordeal has been a wild ride, full of twists and turns that have left us all scratching our heads (or, at the very least, rolling our eyes in exasperation). But, hey, at least we can take comfort in the fact that Trump’s antics will always keep us entertained (even if it’s at the expense of our sanity). So, the next time you hear someone say "only in America," just remember – this is what we’re dealing with. And, who knows, maybe one day we’ll even get to see the Declaration of Independence on display in the Oval Office (although, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you).
You can read more about this topic on The Atlantic website.