Almost two terms later, Barack Obama is still defending removing the Winston Churchill bust from the Oval Office. Obama delivered his defense today in London, England, at 10 Downing Street, in a joint press conference with David Cameron.
“Let me start with Winston Churchill,” Obama said to laughter, according to a transcript provided by the White House. “You know, I don’t know if people are aware of this, but in the Residence, on the second floor, my office, my private office is called the Treaty Room. And right outside the door of the Treaty Room, so that I see it every day, including on weekends, when I’m going into that office to watch a basketball game — (laughter) — the primary image I see is a bust of Winston Churchill. It’s there voluntarily, because I can do anything on the second floor. (Laughter.) I love Winston Churchill. I love the guy.
“Now, when I was elected as President of the United States, my predecessor had kept a Churchill bust in the Oval Office. There are only so many tables where you can put busts — otherwise it starts looking a little cluttered. (Laughter.) And I thought it was appropriate, and I suspect most people here in the United Kingdom might agree, that as the first African American President, it might be appropriate to have a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King in my office to remind me of all the hard work of a lot of people who would somehow allow me to have the privilege of holding this office.
“That’s just on Winston Churchill. I think people should know that, know my thinking there.”
It appeared Obama raised the Churchill bust un-prompted.
