Did Trump's resolute desk refurbishment follow Musk's son's nose-picking incident?
X allegedly wiped his nose on the Resolute Desk during his visit to the Oval Office
US President Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the removal of the iconic 150-year-old Resolute Desk from the Oval Office for refurbishment, just days after a controversial incident involving Elon Musk's son, X.
During a meeting with Elon Musk, the four-year-old son of the billionaire was seen making strange noises, running around, and seemingly picking his nose before rubbing it on the Resolute Desk.
Temporary replacement for the Resolute Desk
In response, President Trump has replaced the iconic 150-year-old Resolute Desk with a C&O desk, which he claims is a temporary replacement while the original undergoes refinishing.
Trump shared the change on his social media platform, Truth Social, posting a photo of the Oval Office with the new desk.
Trump's germophobic concerns
Although Trump, who has previously referred to himself as a germophobe, did not explicitly link the desk replacement to the nose-picking incident, he mentioned in his post that presidents are given a choice of desks after an election.
He noted that the C&O desk was "temporarily installed" while the Resolute Desk undergoes refinishing, and praised the desk's historical significance, mentioning it was once used by President George H. W. Bush and others.
Media speculation on the desk swap
US media outlets like the New York Post and New York Daily News have connected the desk replacement to Musk's son, X Æ A-Xii, who made headlines after the incident in the Oval Office.
X attended a press conference with Trump about a new executive order concerning the Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk leads.
During the visit, X allegedly picked his nose and wiped it on the Resolute Desk, a piece of furniture used by every US president since 1880.
History of the Resolute Desk
The Resolute Desk, a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes, is made from oak timber from the British Arctic exploration vessel HMS Resolute.
First used in the Oval Office by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, it has become one of the most iconic pieces of furniture in US presidential history.
Legacy of the C&O Desk
The C&O desk, meanwhile, was first used by President George H. W. Bush and is made of walnut with golden handles. Initially made for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway owner, it was later used in the Oval Office Study.
Although the Resolute Desk holds a significant place in White House history, the C&O desk's legacy is also notable, with both Kennedy and Bush having utilised it in the Oval Office.
