With President Donald Trump ushering in the "Golden Age" in American politics and transforming the Oval Office into a more stately, aristocratic, or majestic setting suitable for receiving royalty and heads of state, Arizona Rep. Abe Hamadeh has followed in the president's footsteps and has set the gold standard for congressional offices .
Rep. Hamadeh's office has been decorated to fit the title, or what many Americans believe a congressman's office should look like.
Rep. Hamadeh takes a page out of President Trump's 'gold standard' playbook in regal decor, right down to the gold picture frames and use of minimalism.
Oh, he even has chocolates wrapped in gold foil stacked up on a piece of furniture he bought.
Hamadeh has raised the bar for members of Congress looking to decorate or redecorate their respective office.
“President Trump has said that the Founders envisioned our federal architecture to reflect American exceptionalism and inspire civic virtue and that is why he is restoring American greatness to everything - even our buildings. What he has done to the Oval Office is a clear reflection of that vision and serves as an example of what is possible. I hope my office does the same," said Rep. Hamadeh in a statement to Cactus Politics.
He continued, stating that" it was important that we create an atmosphere that is clearly elegant, uplifting and a reflection of the American spirit."
So, if you aren't familiar with how members decorate their personal offices, take if from someone who has entered many congressional offices over the years.
Members of Congress like to make their offices cozy enough for family and friends, but professional enough for guests or other colleagues who occasionally stop by to visit.
In any given office, members will display everything from "Challenge Coin" collections, football helmets from colleges and high schools in their congressional districts, model rocket ships, stuffed game (dead snakes, dear, boar, you name it), and if they have served in the U.S. Military, toy aircraft replicas and even a gun that was affixed to the plane they flew.
Rep. August Pfluger is that guy with the big gun mounted on the wall. Others like Reps. Eli Crane and Ryan Zinke, both former Navy SEALS, like to show off the military items the have collected over the years.
Don't get Rep. Zinke started on his military knife collection unless you have an extra hour or so to spare. Geesh.
Other members have baseball bats, basketballs, and other sports-related memorabilia on display, while others should be ashamed at the level of hoarding they have thrown up on their walls.
You all know who I am talking about.
But while Hamadeh is not ashamed to admit that his decorating skills were inspired by Trump, would you believed that all the renovations he did to his office came out of his pocket, and not at taxpayer expense?
Did Hamadeh break the bank in remodeling his office?
Nope.
Cactus Politics spoke to Rep. Hamadeh about this office, learning that the freshman congressman from Arizona spent a little over $2000 of his own money, and several trips to The Home Depot and made some online purchases on Amazon to complete his very regal-looking office.
We have to give Hamadeh some credit for working with the little and dated furniture the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) offers every representative.
"I have spent my own money for the enhancements to the office (less than $2,500), it didn’t require much money, it just needed vision. I think you would agree if you saw the faces of my constituents who come to visit," Hamadeh added. "When they enter, they know instantly that I take the job they sent me here to do seriously and hold true to America's exceptionalism."
Skateboarding Georgia Congressman Rich McCormick (R) is directly across the hall from Hamadeh and is well aware of the newly-decorated office.
Will other members follow Hamadeh's lead?
In my opinion, many will want these decorating tips but may find it hard to admit that some of their offices look like a color palette did a nose dive into a 1970's era wood wall paneling and some formica-laden desks and tables.
Surely, the congressman from Arizona would dish out those tips for free, right?
Here are some more pics:
