President Donald Trump has temporarily removed the historic 145-year-old Resolute Desk from the Oval Office after a viral clip showed Elon Musk’s son, picking his nose and wiping his fingers during a White House visit. The internet erupted over the moment, and in an unexpected move, Trump announced that the iconic desk would undergo “light refinishing.”
The announcement, made via Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, came just days after footage of Musk’s son circulated online. Trump, who has long been vocal about his germaphobia, shared an image of the replacement desk, known as the “C&O,” which had previously been used by President George H.W. Bush. “A President, after the election, gets a choice of 1 in 7 desks. This desk, the ‘C&O,’ which is also very well-known and was used by President George H.W. Bush and others, has been temporarily installed in the White House while the Resolute Desk is being lightly refinished—a very important job. This is a beautiful, but temporary replacement!” Trump stated.
The Legendary Resolute Desk
The Resolute Desk, an enduring piece of U.S. presidential history, was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880. Crafted from the oak timbers of the British ship HMS Resolute, the desk has been a mainstay in the Oval Office, used by presidents including John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. Weighing in at 1,300 pounds (590 kg), it was masterfully built by William Evenden at Chatham Dockyard in Kent, possibly following a design by Morant, Boyd & Blanford.
Musk’s Son Steals the Spotlight
The incident unfolded during Musk’s visit to the White House, where his son, known as “Lil X,” unexpectedly became the center of attention. Trump introduced him during a press briefing, calling him a “high IQ individual” and a “great guy.” However, it wasn’t his intelligence that captured headlines—it was the moment he casually picked his nose and wiped his fingers, triggering a flurry of online reactions and memes.
While Trump’s official statement framed the desk swap as routine maintenance, many are speculating that Musk’s son may have played an unintentional role in expediting the decision. Whether a coincidence or a reaction to the viral moment, the Resolute Desk’s temporary departure has certainly left social media buzzing.
