Trump's Surreal First Night in the White House: The Historic Lincoln Bedroom Experience

President Donald Trump has described his first night at the White House as a "surreal experience," particularly when he looked into the historic Lincoln Bedroom. "After I won, the first night, I went up and I'm standing in the residential hallway with Melania and I'm looking into the Lincoln bedroom," Trump recounted during a recent dinner with his billionaire supporters at the White House.

"That was a surreal experience... We're in the White House and that's the Lincoln bedroom. And it takes a while to get used to," the President elaborated.

Trump admitted that he continues to feel the weight of the building's historical significance: "I'm still probably not really used to it. It's just a special place. What can I say? So we have to take care of it."

During the event, the President also revealed his plans to build a triumphal arch opposite the Lincoln Memorial and to renovate the White House, including a $200 million ballroom being financed with help from the evening's wealthy attendees.

Additionally, Trump has created a "Presidential Hall of Fame" along the west colonnade and redesigned the rose garden, replacing grass with paving and adding patio furniture, according to The Daily Beast.

The Lincoln Bedroom occupies the southeast corner of the White House's second floor and holds a distinguished place in presidential lore. Despite its name, historical records confirm that Abraham Lincoln never actually slept there. Instead, he primarily used it as his office and meeting space during his presidency, where he consulted with Cabinet members and drafted crucial wartime documents.

The room's centerpiece is the magnificent 8-foot by 6-foot rosewood "Lincoln Bed," commissioned by Mary Todd Lincoln in 1861 as part of a Victorian furnishing collection. The bed features a gilded and carved crown-shaped canopy with luxurious royal purple satin over white lace cascading to the floor.

The authentic Scalamandre tassels, tiebacks, drapery silk, and satin bed hangings complement the furniture used during Lincoln's administration, which includes two slipper chairs, four Cabinet chairs, a sofa, and three matching chairs.

Subsequent administrations repositioned and refurbished the bed and accompanying furniture to transform the space into an elegant guest room. Preservation efforts have consistently aimed to balance historical authenticity with contemporary functionality.

During restorations in the 1990s and 2000s, period-appropriate wallpaper, rugs, mantels, and drapes replaced previous materials. The distinctive crown-shaped canopy over the bed was recreated based on early photographs and engravings.

The White House Historical Association notes that the bedroom has been "artfully restored" to incorporate Lincoln-era decorative elements such as mantels and window cornices.

With its dual role as a guest room and historical memorial, the Lincoln Bedroom embodies tradition and grandeur. It has hosted numerous dignitaries, visiting heads of state, and prominent figures throughout American history.