Obama can’t resist mocking Trump’s gold Oval Office in sketch comedy series
Former President Barack Obama took a pointed jab at President Donald Trump‘s gold-heavy Oval Office redecoration while filming a cameo for HBO Max’s historical sketch comedy series Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.
In a clip released promoting the show, Obama toured a replica of the Oval Office built for the production and praised its recreation of the room during his presidency.
“Nice job on the recreation,” Obama quipped, before pointing to a bowl of apples and saying, “You even have the apples.”
He then delivered the jab that drew attention, saying, “Although I do want to point out there’s no gold sign on the outside that says ‘Oval Office.’”
The joke prompted laughter from the production crew.
Trump’s gold additions to the White House
Photos and videos first surfaced showed a gold-script “The Oval Office” sign near the room’s entrance by the Rose Garden. According to reports, the sign was installed in December as part of a broader White House gilding effort that included 24-karat gold-leaf details on doorframes, cherubs and ceiling accents.
Trump has defended the changes, telling Fox News host Laura Ingraham that the Oval Office “needed a little life.”
Obama has previously criticized the renovations. At a November campaign rally in Virginia, he mocked Trump for being “focused on critical issues like paving over the Rose Garden so folks don’t get mud on their shoes” and “gold-plating the Oval Office.”
About the HBO Max appearance
HBO posted the behind-the-scenes footage to promote Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, a collaboration between Larry David and Barack and Michelle Obama. The series is produced by Higher Ground Productions.
Barack appears in the premiere and returns in the finale, where he plays a version of himself from 2014, the year his tan suit became the subject of widespread media coverage. In the sketch, Larry plays a White House aide who spills a smoothie on Barack’s suit and convinces him to wear the tan suit.
The episode premiered on HBO Max on Friday, August 7.
Larry and Jeff Schaffer co-wrote the series, with Jeff also directing. His previous credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld.
Donald’s broader White House changes
The gold Oval Office signage is part of a broader series of changes Donald has made to the White House. Other projects include the demolition of the East Wing for a new ballroom, the conversion of the Rose Garden into a paved patio and the installation of a “Presidential Walk of Fame” along the colonnade.