Which US government buildings use gold leaf or gold plating in their interiors and exteriors?

1. The White House: the single clearly documented federal building with gold work

Contemporary coverage in the provided reporting identifies the White House as the U.S. government building with the clearest and most specific references to gold leaf, gold plating or gilded interior elements: The New York Times reports the presidential seal on the Oval Office ceiling is “covered in gold leaf” and multiple outlets describe gilded moldings, gold-framed portraits and gold trim in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room ^{[1] [2]}. News photos and descriptions across The New York Times, Business Insider, CNN, USA Today and others emphasize a broad “gilding” of several Oval Office features — ceiling trim, fireplace mantels, frames and appliqués — making the White House the primary documented example in the supplied reporting ^{[1] [2] [5] [3]}.

2. Distinction between “real gold,” gold leaf, paint or gilding in coverage

The sources show disagreement or uncertainty over whether all visible gold is solid metal, gold leaf, paint or decorative appliqués. The New York Times directly states the presidential seal is covered in gold leaf ^[1]. People reports President Trump saying the new gold additions were “real gold,” while other outlets and internet sleuths suggest some pieces may be plastic or spray-painted items rather than solid gold fixtures ^{[6] [7]}. The Independent and other outlets report investigation and viewer-sleuthing raising doubt about whether items are true gold or gilded/painted decor ^[7].

3. Exterior gold use: little specific reporting in these sources

Available sources focus nearly entirely on interior decoration. While some pieces mention exterior additions like tall flagpoles or signage on the grounds, the supplied reporting does not document gold leaf or gold plating used on White House exterior architectural surfaces; instead, mention of exterior change centers on structural alterations such as replacing the Rose Garden or adding flagpoles and the proposed East Wing ballroom project ^{[4] [5]}. Therefore, the supplied reporting documents interior gilding much more clearly than any exterior gold cladding ^{[4] [5]}.

4. Other federal buildings: not mentioned in the provided reporting

The search results supplied do not identify any other U.S. government buildings (Capitol, Supreme Court, federal courts, state department buildings, etc.) as using gold leaf or gold plating in their interiors or exteriors. Available sources do not mention gold work in other federal buildings beyond descriptions of the White House’s interior changes (not found in current reporting).

5. Political framing, reaction and agendas around gilding

Coverage is heavily political and interpretive: outlets frame the gilding as emblematic of President Trump’s aesthetic ^{[4] [8]}, while critics tie lavish decor to controversial policy choices and the timing of renovations during a government shutdown ^{[3] [9]}. Opinion pieces and commentary use gilding as symbolic leverage — for example, MSNBC/Now and Newsweek interpret the decor as a deliberate Mar‑a‑Lago aesthetic or as politically charged spectacle, while other reporting focuses more on factual descriptions and photographic comparisons ^{[10] [8] [4]}. Readers should note the mix of straight reporting, visual description and opinion in the supplied set.

6. What’s verifiable and what remains uncertain

Verifiable from the supplied reporting: multiple outlets photographed and described gold-colored trim, frames and appliqués in the Oval Office and Cabinet Room; The New York Times explicitly says the Oval Office presidential seal is covered in gold leaf ^{[1] [2]}. Uncertain or disputed in the supplied reporting: whether all gold-looking items are solid gold, gold-plated, gold leaf, or merely painted/spray‑coated plastic; some outlets quote claims or denials from the White House and note internet sleuthing suggesting cheaper sources for items ^{[6] [7]}.

7. Bottom line for your query

Based on the provided sources, the White House is the U.S. government building most clearly documented as featuring gold leaf/gilded interior elements, including the presidential seal on the Oval Office ceiling and other gold trim, frames and fixtures ^{[1] [2]}. The supplied reporting does not identify other federal buildings with similar gold leaf or gold-plated interiors or exteriors, and it records disagreement about whether some of the gold is genuine metal, gilding, or decorative paint/appliqué ^{[7] [6]}.