Former President Donald Trump's anticipated return to the White House involves more than just political transitions and policy changes.
According to Daily Mail, the White House residence staff are preparing for a whirlwind five-hour turnover on Inauguration Day 2025, which includes reinstating Trump's famous Diet Coke button on the Resolute Desk.
The nearly 100 nonpolitical White House employees who have served multiple presidents will orchestrate the rapid transformation of the executive mansion. These staff members have already begun planning the transition since President Joe Biden's exit from the presidential race in July, ensuring everything will be exactly as the Trumps remember it from their first term.
The residence staff's efficiency stems from their previous experience with the Trump family during their first term. They remember Donald Trump's particular preferences, including his habit of tipping staff members with $50 bills and his constant consumption of Diet Coke served on silver trays by his personal valet, Walt Nauta.
Kate Andersen Brower, author of The Residence, explains the staff's familiarity with the incoming first family. She notes:
It's easier because they've lived there before. There aren't any mysteries about what [the Trumps] would they like to have for breakfast, how they operate, what kind of shampoo they use. I mean, they know everything already.
The transition will involve moving the Bidens out and the Trumps in during a carefully choreographed five-hour window on January 20. Staff will ensure everything from clothing placement to furniture arrangements matches the Trumps' preferences from their previous stay.
During her first term as First Lady, Melania Trump made significant changes to the White House's interior design. She worked with designer Tham Kannalikham to refurbish several rooms, including the Yellow Oval Room, the Queens' Bedroom, and the Center Hall.
The former First Lady took photographs of her restoration work before departing, which will serve as reference points for staff arranging the rooms. Her design choices featured soft pastel colors, including yellow walls and pink and blue furniture, creating a relaxing atmosphere in the family's private quarters.
Melania Trump's contributions to the White House extended beyond interior design. She added a Tennis Pavilion to the grounds and renovated furniture and accessories in the East Room and Red Room, though her Rose Garden renovation sparked controversy.
The position of chief usher, who manages the White House residence staff and operations, remains a crucial appointment for the incoming administration. The role, which pays approximately $200,000 annually, has become increasingly political in recent years.
The Bidens' current chief usher, Robert Downing, will likely be replaced as the Trumps select their own candidate. The previous transition in 2021 faced challenges when Timothy Harleth, hired by Melania Trump, departed under controversial circumstances, leading to an awkward moment when the Bidens arrived at the White House with no one to greet them.
The staff must also coordinate with curators to properly sort and pack items, distinguishing between personal belongings and official White House collection pieces. The National Archives will receive official documents while ensuring the Bidens' personal items are properly packed and transported.
The upcoming presidential transition will see Donald and Melania Trump return to a familiar White House setting, with staff working to recreate their preferred environment down to the smallest details. The five-hour turnover on January 20, 2025, will transform the executive mansion from the Bidens' home to the Trumps' residence, complete with the restoration of Trump's Diet Coke button. While most logistics are planned, the critical appointment of a new chief usher remains pending, highlighting the complex balance between maintaining White House traditions and accommodating presidential preferences.
