August 15, 2025

What distinguishes good and bad taste?

The question is on my mind amid the near-universal repulsion for Donald Trump’s Oval Office renovations, a disgust I happen to share. But I’m wondering why I feel so repulsed. Yes, taxpayers are on the hook for these massive expenses. Yes, they are being ordered by an abhorrent human. Yes, it seems pretty arrogant to remake what has been historically referred to as “the People’s House” to your liking. (Also, what happened to the country’s most famous houseplant?)

But Trump is not the first president to order an extreme makeover. It makes sense that the guy in charge might have a thing or two to say about such a transformation. So I want to know: What’s behind the widespread condemnation of Trump’s gilded furnishings, and does it potentially say anything about us? Because I can’t help but detect a small level of high-minded elitism in my ridicule of all that gold.

Now don’t get me wrong. I find everything about his design choices ridiculous and, frankly, ugly. But I’m exploring these questions for an upcoming piece about “taste” in the era of Trump and would love to hear your thoughts.

—Inae Oh

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