Churchill’s grandson on what WW2 PM would think of Trump’s Oval Office bust | Films | Entertainment

When a new Commander-in-Chief enters the Oval Office, changes are always made, from carpet and curtains to pictures and portraits; however, one in particular caused a stir.

When President Barack Obama moved into the White House in 2009, he removed a bronze bust of Sir Winston Churchill in part to make way for one of Martin Luther King Jr.

When President Donald Trump began his first term in 2017, he brought Churchill’s head back in as a sign of the special relationship and because of his great admiration for the World War 2 prime minister.

It was then removed again when President Joe Biden took power, and it has now been reinstated this week as the 47th president begins his second term in office.

Around the release of the film Darkest Hour, Churchill’s grandson Lord Soames previously told Express.co.uk that Obama didn’t have the bust removed as it was only intended for the duration of the Bush presidency.

Lord Soames, a close friend of the King, said: “No he didn’t get rid of it. When Obama became president, the then British ambassador had lent George W Bush this head of my grandfather from the embassy for his period in power. And when he went, the ambassador wrote and said, ‘Can we have the head back, for the embassy?’

“So it went back and Obama let it go. It’s not compulsory to have it. Actually outside the President’s study, in the White House, is another head of Churchill. But it’s obligatory to have a bust of Churchill in your office. Trump asked if he could borrow it. It’s not his, it’s loaned. I promise you, it’s not a sign of the strength or otherwise of the special relationship, whether or not Churchill’s head is in the White House.”

The former Tory MP, who praised the new Darkest Hour Churchill film at the time also shared what his grandfather would think of President Trump having a bust of his head in the Oval Office.

Churchill’s grandson added: “The idea that my grandfather would have been pleased to have a bust of his head in the office of Donald Trump is for the birds! But equally, it’s of long term comfort if President Trump believes Churchill was a great leader. But I don’t think you can judge the greatness of a President by whether or not he has a head of my grandfather in his office or not.”