Trump and Melania’s separate White House bedrooms exposed as Don ‘loots’ First Lady’s decor to win bizarre room war

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DONALD Trump and Melania may live under the same roof at the White House, but a new book reveals the First Couple also enjoy having their own private spaces.

A new book has offered a rare glimpse behind the closed doors of the presidential residence, from separate bedrooms and late-night snacks to Trump’s hands-on approach to interior decorating.

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Donald Trump and Melania maintain separate private spaces within the White House Credit: AP

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The second-floor living room that traditionally serves as a private space, pictured here during John F. Kennedy’s presidency and later chosen by Donald Trump as his bedroom Credit: JFK Library

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President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan in the White House master bedroom. This larger suite, featuring a private dressing room and bath, was later occupied by First Lady Melania Trump Credit: Alamy

Illustration of the second-floor layout of the White House, showing Donald and Melania Trump's master bedroom and living room, with small headshots of Melania Trump and Donald Trump.

The fresh details come from Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.

According to the authors, Melania occupies the traditional White House master bedroom, complete with a dressing room and en suite bathroom, while Trump has made a neighboring room his own.

The arrangement is far from unprecedented, as former President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy reportedly used a similar setup during their time in the White House.

The book claims Trump wasted little time putting his personal touch on his quarters after returning to the White House in January 2025.

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“In the early weeks of the new administration, items were spirited from the second-floor corridor into the President’s bedroom,” Haberman and Swan wrote.

“Sometimes Trump carried the objects in himself, rearranging things across the private quarters on a whim.”

The authors suggest the President was keen to create a room that reflected his own tastes, with staff occasionally helping source replacement items elsewhere in the residence.

“Once, when staff gently reminded the President that he was taking things from the Center Hall his wife had personally selected, he made clear he didn’t care,” they wrote.

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“He seemed almost to be competing with her – determined to have the better room.”

The book, seen by the Daily Mail, says some decorative features originally chosen during Melania’s first term also found new homes around the White House.

Among them was a large mirror that now sits near Trump’s outdoor “Presidential Walk of Fame” display.

Staff were reportedly kept busy balancing the couple’s preferences while ensuring any replacement decor met the First Lady’s approval.

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The book also reveals Trump’s late-night snacking habits and Melania’s decor disagreements Credit: Alamy

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 21: The Rose Garden of the White House, on May 21, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Credit: CNP / AdMedia

The book also reveals Trump’s late-night snacking habits and Melania’s decor disagreements, including over The White House Rose Garden Credit: Alamy

The book also sheds light on one of Trump’s more unusual design choices – his fondness for a carpeted bathroom.

The feature, which was popular in American homes decades ago, reportedly returned when Trump moved back into the White House.

“The portion nearest the shower would often be soaked through; the staff was never quite sure why, but they worried about mold growing underneath,” Haberman and Swan wrote.

“The solution was to lay a small piece of the same carpet – never an actual bath mat – over the larger one.”

“Several of these pieces were kept in rotation, swapped out and dried,” they added.

Another revelation concerns the President’s late-night snack habit.

“A nighttime snacker, the President would frequently leave an array of empty potato chip bags, Starbucks wrappers, and ice cream cartons in the trash, or on the floor,” the authors wrote.

“The staff had to begin monitoring the trash after it was discovered he was sometimes throwing out White House sterling silver utensils.”

The book, suggests the couple occasionally had different views on major White House projects too.

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Melania is said to have voiced concerns about plans affecting areas she had previously redesigned, including the Rose Garden, while also expressing reservations about the scale of Trump’s planned White House ballroom.

“Mrs. Trump, who preferred a quiet environment with minimal disturbances and objected to living in a construction zone, had repeatedly expressed concern about the size and location of the ballroom,” Haberman and Swan wrote.

President Trump And First Lady Melania Trump Host Military Mother's Day Event At The White House

Trump’s personal touch includes rearranging decor and a carpeted bathroom, sparking staff concerns Credit: Getty

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