Former President Barack Obama took a lighthearted jab at President Donald Trump’s gold-themed modifications to the Oval Office in a clip released Monday, August 11, 2026. The footage promotes Obama’s cameo on HBO Max’s "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness," where he tours a replica of the Oval Office featured in a sketch on the Larry David-starring show.

"Nice job on the recreation," Obama remarked while observing the set designed to resemble the Oval Office during his presidency. He pointed out a bowl of fruit on the coffee table, saying, "You even have the apples," a nod to a detail he was known for.

However, Obama humorously noted the absence of a gold sign outside the office, stating, "Although I do want to point out there’s no gold sign on the outside that says ‘Oval Office,'" eliciting laughter from the production crew.

Photos and videos first emerged in November 2025 showing a gold-script sign reading "The Oval Office" near the entrance by the Rose Garden. This sign was among several gold accents added by Trump, including gilded touches on the ceiling, fireplace mantel, and doorways.

When Fox News’s Laura Ingraham asked Trump about these golden additions, he responded, "It needed a little life."

Beyond the Oval Office changes, Trump has made other notable and sometimes controversial alterations to the White House. These include demolishing the East Wing to build a ballroom currently involved in a legal dispute, renovating the Rose Garden into a patio, and creating a "Presidential Walk of Fame" along the colonnade.

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