Security sweep, not Musk's son picking nose, behind removal of Resolute Desk

New Delhi: The Oval Office underwent an unexpected security procedure as the historic Resolute Desk, a centerpiece of the presidential workspace since the late 19th century, was temporarily removed for a comprehensive security sweep. 

White House officials confirmed the measure was taken as part of routine protocol to ensure the safety and integrity of the executive office, though no specific threats were disclosed.

The Resolute Desk, crafted from timbers of the British ship HMS Resolute and gifted to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria in 1880, has been used by nearly every U.S. president since. Its removal marks a rare interruption in the daily operations of the Oval Office, drawing attention from historians and security experts alike.

According to a statement from the White House Press Office, “The temporary relocation of furnishings, including the Resolute Desk, is a precautionary step to facilitate a thorough security review. This process is conducted periodically to maintain the highest standards of safety for the President and staff.” 

The statement did not elaborate on the timing or findings of the sweep, citing operational security concerns.

Sources familiar with the procedure indicate that the desk was transported to a secure facility where it underwent inspection for potential electronic surveillance devices, structural anomalies, or other undisclosed risks. The sweep is believed to involve advanced scanning technology and a team of specialists from the U.S. Secret Service and other federal agencies.

On Friday, media reports alleged that Trump ordered the removal of the desk from the Oval Office for refurbishment after Elon Musk’s son seemingly wiped a booger on it during their visit to the White House.

“A President, after the election, gets a choice of 1 in 7 desks,” Trump wrote on social media.

“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 wrote.

Trump did not mention the name of Musk's son in the post.

However, some US media outlets like the New York Post and New York Daily News linked it to the visit by Tesla CEO Musk's son X Æ A-Xii.

The change comes after Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and his four-year-old son appeared alongside Trump on live television last week, and the youngster picked his nose and appeared to put boogers on the Resolute desk, the New York Post said.

According to the paper, Trump is known for his extreme germophobia.

Trump has spoken openly about his phobia of germs in the past too.

The Georgian-style C&O Desk is made of walnut and features golden handles. The desk's acronym stands for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway because the desk was built for one of the railway's owners and later donated to the White House, the paper said.

George H W Bush was the first and only president − up until Trump − to utilize the C&O Desk.

The Resolute Desk is perhaps the most famous and well-known desk to adorn the Oval Office, built from the remains of the British Arctic exploration vessel the HMS Resolute and presented by Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880, according to the paper.

Only three presidents are believed not to have used the Resolute Desk at all in the West Wing: Lyndon B Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, according to the White House Historical Association.

Theodore Roosevelt Desk, The Johnson Desk, The Hoover Desk, and The Wilson Desk are other desks a sitting president can choose from.