
Martin Luther King Jr. was an influential figure who fought for racial equality and justice in America. For his role in establishing civil rights for African Americans, a bronze bust was commissioned and was set up in the Oval Office by President Obama in 2009.
However, under the Trump administration, some have noticed that the bust is nowhere to be seen, at least in the Oval Office. This has caused a firestorm as critics slam the decision.
Moving The Bust

Multiple credible sources have confirmed that the bust has been moved away from the Office. However, the White House has not released any statements regarding its move.
Some have reported that the bust was relocated to the private dining area that White House officials use for lunch and meetings. The bust being moved could be part of the Oval Office itself getting some redecoration.
The Bust Itself

The MLK was designed and created over fifty years ago by Charles Alston in 1970. The bust represented more than the influential figure, but was the first display of an African American in the White House.
The bust itself being placed in the Oval Office carried significant symbolism by the Obama administration as the President of the United States should have a commitment to civil rights and not forget the past.
Speculation On What It Means

Many criticize the move and believe it is part of the abolishment of civil rights and diversity icons from federal spaces.
Trump has been vocal about his stance on DEI, and erasing tributes to icons like these could be a coordinated rollback of symbolic representation on public display, although the official reasons remain unknown.
Churchill Comes In

Around the same time as the redecoration, Trump reintroduced a bust of Winston Churchill, the former British Prime Minister responsible for leading the U.K. during WWII.
This reverted the decision Obama made while in Office to move the Churchill bust to the Treaty Room. Many understandably see this as replacing a domestic icon with a foreign one.
Public Reaction

The move has ignited pushback on social media. Many argue that there is no hidden meaning behind the change and that the acting President can move around and redecorate the Oval Office as he chooses.
Others argue that the Oval Office is more than a private space, and is the “people’s office.” Removing the bust is sending the wrong message about national values, whether intentional or not.
It’s Happened Before

This controversial removal of the MLK bust is not the first time accusations like this have been made. A few years ago, in 2017, a reporter didn’t see the bust in the Oval Office and made claims that it had been moved. However, it ended up that the bust was just out of view.
The reporter corrected their story, but the current move has been credited by multiple sources, and no statements claiming whether or not it’s true have been released yet.
Met By Silence

While the incident in 2017 was quickly clarified by Trump, stating, “Somebody said I took the statue out of my office. And it turned out that that was fake news. Fake news,” Trump said. “The statue is cherished. It was never even touched, so I think it was a disgrace, but that’s the way the press is. Very unfortunate.”
However, the lack of transparency this time speaks volumes, and the removal could be a reality this time.
Broader Implications

If the bust really has been removed this time, there could be broader implications as people speak their minds about what it means.
Many opposed the decision and felt that it was a regression of equality and justice that MLK fought hard for and that it could open the door for other important American symbols to be erased in public spaces.
What Could Happen Next

Millions eagerly await a response from White House officials or President Trump himself. Whether a valid explanation will be given or it ends up being a mistake once again is anyone’s guess.
If no response is ever given, then people will continue to speculate what this means for how America remembers its history and how the current President can decide who gets remembered and put on display at the heart of democracy.
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