Trump 'alarms' aides with request involving Declaration of Independence: report

President Donald Trump wants a copy of the Declaration of Independence on the wall of the Oval Office — but apparently, he's only settling for that after initially asking aides if they could get the real document, The Atlantic reported on Thursday.

"Trump’s request alarmed some of his aides, who immediately recognized both the implausibility and expense of moving the original document," reported Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer.

The original Declaration of Independence, which established the United States as its own nation standing alone from British rule, is nearly 250 years old and difficult to maintain.

"Displayed in the rotunda at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., it is perhaps the most treasured historical document in the U.S. government’s possession. The original is behind heavy glass in an oxygen-free, argon-filled case that can retract into the wall at night for security. Because of light damage to the faded animal-skin parchment, the room is kept dimly lit; restrictions have been placed on how often the doors can even be opened," according to the report.

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Trump now appears to be leaning toward displaying a historical copy instead. These copies, produced in the 1820s by William J. Stone at the request of then-Secretary of State John Quincy Adams to preserve the original document, are still extremely valuable, but would be significantly more feasible and are also the version most recognizable in history texts.

"Displaying a copy would still enshrine history’s most famous written rejection of monarchy in the seat of American power," Parker and Scherer wrote. "The document is reprinted in school textbooks nationwide and is recognized the world over as a defiant stand against the corrupting dangers of absolute power. It declares equality among men a self-evident truth, asserts that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed, and offers a litany of grievances against a despotic ruler."

The move comes as Trump tries to reshape the federal government in his image and assert the power of the executive branch to the maximum possible extent, making spending decisions constitutionally reserved for Congress while threatening legal action against reporters to criticize the administration.