Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
Hi @JD_co Personal note: I found the exact shape of the items near the fire place at the Oval Office online at Home Depot, as noted below; from pics I viewed. I took pictures from the laptop screen and used Google Lens (smart phone) to provide an ID and link information. My best guess is that the WH has an open account at several stores to purchase the best foamboard or plastic decor, as needed. Gold spray paint in large volumes is not too pricey, versus AU in the real form.
From an earlier report:
Some gold-colored items in the Oval Office were purchased from stores like Home Depot, where plastic appliques were sold and then spray-painted gold, reports from September 2025 suggest. Other gold pieces, like custom carved items, were brought in from Mar-a-Lago, and historical items such as President Monroe's 1817 gilt service were also displayed.
Purchases of modern gold items Home Depot: Internet users pointed out that some polyurethane wall moldings and appliques sold for around $58 at Home Depot closely resembled the gold trim and medallions in the Oval Office after being spray-painted gold.
Alibaba: Similar items, described as "High-density Home Decoration Polyurethane Appliques Ornament PU Foam Veneer Accessories," were also found on online marketplaces like Alibaba.
Custom-made items: The Wall Street Journal reported that cabinetmaker John Icart, who had worked on the Mar-a-Lago decor, was flown in to create custom gold flourishes for the office.
Use of historical items President Monroe's gilt service: Gold urns on the mantle were from an 1817 set originally kept in the State Dining Room.
Other gold items The World Cup trophy: A gold-plated replica was eventually replaced with the actual FIFA Club World Cup trophy, which was presented to Chelsea FC and then brought back to the Oval Office.
@rono dates back to Fund Alarm 20 years or more ago (and I think he participated in a predecessor to that fine board). Yes, he’s been a proponent of PRPFX since those days. And knows the metals better than anyone here. Wrote a daily column ”Asia and the metals” for a long time on the FA site.
Re PRPFX - I no longer own, but watch it daily. Thought it would lose more than it did yesterday. Not only gold & silver, but also the Swiss Franc which it holds were down. Interestingly, real estate has held up very well the past few days. Might have helped the fund yesterday, along with some of the tech giants it owns.
Comments
PRPFX has been a champ. Is the run over? Who knows.
From an earlier report:
Some gold-colored items in the Oval Office were purchased from stores like Home Depot, where plastic appliques were sold and then spray-painted gold, reports from September 2025 suggest. Other gold pieces, like custom carved items, were brought in from Mar-a-Lago, and historical items such as President Monroe's 1817 gilt service were also displayed.
Purchases of modern gold items
Home Depot: Internet users pointed out that some polyurethane wall moldings and appliques sold for around $58 at Home Depot closely resembled the gold trim and medallions in the Oval Office after being spray-painted gold.
Alibaba: Similar items, described as "High-density Home Decoration Polyurethane Appliques Ornament PU Foam Veneer Accessories," were also found on online marketplaces like Alibaba.
Custom-made items: The Wall Street Journal reported that cabinetmaker John Icart, who had worked on the Mar-a-Lago decor, was flown in to create custom gold flourishes for the office.
Use of historical items
President Monroe's gilt service: Gold urns on the mantle were from an 1817 set originally kept in the State Dining Room.
Other gold items
The World Cup trophy: A gold-plated replica was eventually replaced with the actual FIFA Club World Cup trophy, which was presented to Chelsea FC and then brought back to the Oval Office.
I own PRPFX in several accounts for both me and wifey. I've owned it for over 20 years. It serves as a teddy bear.
and so it goes,
peace,
rono
Re PRPFX - I no longer own, but watch it daily. Thought it would lose more than it did yesterday. Not only gold & silver, but also the Swiss Franc which it holds were down. Interestingly, real estate has held up very well the past few days. Might have helped the fund yesterday, along with some of the tech giants it owns.