Trump Pledges to Restore Churchill’s Bust to Oval Office as ‘Mark of Respect’

[Social Media]

 

Donald Trump has made a pledge that, when returns to the White House, he will immediately restore the bust of Winston Churchill to its rightful place in the Oval Office as a tribute to the iconic British leader. The move would reverse a controversial decision made by President Joe Biden, who replaced the bronze bust of Churchill with one of Hispanic civil rights leader Cesar Chavez following his victory in 2020.

 

 

Trump, a self-professed Anglophile with Scottish heritage, has long expressed his admiration for Churchill, often referring to him as his idol. A source close to the former president revealed that returning the bust of Churchill would be one of Trump's first acts upon taking office. "Donald idolizes Churchill and believes he’s the greatest leader the world has ever seen," the source said. "He will restore him to a position of honor as a mark of respect."

 

 

Trump’s admiration for Churchill is no secret. He has called the film *The Darkest Hour*, in which Gary Oldman portrays Churchill, "my favorite film ever." The bronze bust of Churchill, crafted by renowned British sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein, was originally gifted to President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 by the Wartime Friends of Winston Churchill. It remained in the Oval Office until 2009 when Barack Obama replaced it with a bust of Martin Luther King Jr., a gesture that sparked criticism in the UK.

 

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a biographer of Churchill, had famously described Obama’s decision as a sign of "an ancestral dislike of the British Empire." When Trump won the presidency in 2016, he immediately reinstated the Churchill bust, removing the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in the process. Trump had condemned the Black Lives Matter protesters who defaced a statue of Churchill in London, calling their actions "shameful" and a disrespect to the man who "saved the world from the tyranny of Hitler."

 

Trump’s commitment to Churchill goes beyond mere symbolism. During his first term, Trump formed a close bond with Churchill’s descendants, including the 12th Duke of Marlborough, whom Trump affectionately refers to as "The Dook." The two men became fast friends, with the Duke even visiting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2019.

 

This new promise to bring back the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office is likely to draw mixed reactions. While it is seen as a symbol of the enduring bond between the United States and Britain, it also has the potential to stir political tensions. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, a vocal critic of Trump, once described him as a "deluded, dishonest, xenophobic narcissist," making it unclear whether the return of Churchill’s bust will ease relations between Trump and the UK’s Labour government.

 

Despite these potential tensions, historians and public figures have praised Trump’s decision. Andrew Roberts, a renowned Churchill biographer, expressed approval, calling it "excellent news," though he urged Trump to back up the gesture with action. "This makes sense if President Trump also adopts Churchill’s policy of defiance against totalitarian regimes that invade their neighbors," Roberts said.

 

Rory Stewart, a broadcaster and former Conservative MP, also welcomed the news, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive relationship between the UK and the U.S. "Whatever we all think of Donald Trump—and I am, to put it mildly, no fan—it’s very important for Britain that we retain a positive relationship with the President of the United States," Stewart remarked. "The U.S. remains the indispensable power in the world and the linchpin of the international order."

 

Lord Michael Dobbs, author of the *House of Cards* trilogy, also expressed his support for Trump’s decision, noting Churchill’s American roots. "It’s a beautiful sculpture. Churchill himself was half-American—his mother was born in Brooklyn," Dobbs said. "He believed that the partnership between our two countries was the best guarantee of a safe world."

 

Even Churchill’s grandson, Lord Nicholas Soames, shared his approval. "I am very glad, obviously. That’s lovely. I am delighted," Soames told the *Mail on Sunday*.

 

The potential return of the Churchill bust to the Oval Office stands as a potent symbol of Trump’s enduring admiration for the British leader, one that could shape both the cultural and political dynamics of his second term in office, should he win the presidency once again. The move underscores the significance of U.S.-UK relations, even as it highlights the deep divisions within the political landscape.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-11-11

 

 

 

[Srikcir]

Trivial issue. The POTUS can put whatever he wants in the Oval Office. Pictures of family and friends are common.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

"The potential return of the Churchill bust to the Oval Office stands as a potent symbol of Trump’s enduring admiration for the British leader, one that could shape both the cultural and political dynamics of his second term in office, should he win the presidency once again. The move underscores the significance of U.S.-UK relations, even as it highlights the deep divisions within the political landscape. "

 

Good for President Trump!😃

[JonnyF]

Another great decision from Trump.

 

Meanwhile in the UK Starmer is removing pictures of Thatcher,  and Rachel Reeves is hanging pictures of communist hero Ellen Wilkinson. 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Another great decision from Trump.

 

Meanwhile in the UK Starmer is removing pictures of Thatcher,  and Rachel Reeves is hanging pictures of communist hero Ellen Wilkinson. 

Ellen Wilkinson who served in Churchill’s wartime coalition Government.

[jippytum]

That's ok but leave Maggie Thatcher's portrait that Reagan Commissioned in the attic. 

[JonnyF]

13 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Ellen Wilkinson who served in Churchill’s wartime coalition Government.

 

Well, she was a junior minister of the Labour party during a period of war where all the parties came together.

 

I doubt Churchill had time to do background checks on all Labour's junior leftist scrotes while he was taking on the Nazis or he would have known of her links to revolutionary communism, Lenin, Trotsky etc.

[herfiehandbag]

Now hears a radically perhaps dangerous idea. Why not busts of both Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King?

 

Both were great orators, great leaders and did great things for their countries. Their shades would probably appreciate them being together! Together they could take the piss out of Trump - worth listening to!

 

Incidentally, don't take too much notice of Rory Stewart - he talks vapid <deleted> much of the time!

[Skeptic7]

While I have no problem at all with this, The Imbecile surely has no idea who Winston Churchill is. Probably thinks it's the guy from The Kentucky Derby❗

[Thingamabob]

Good news. Not only a reflection of the friendship of close allies, but also a reminder that Churchill's mum was an American.

[novacova]

36 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

Now hears a radically perhaps dangerous idea. Why not busts of both Winston Churchill and Martin Luther King?

There’s a MLK national memorial. 

[AndreasHG]

Wiston Churchill would have considered Trump a buffoon. Trump would have labelled Churchill a RINO.

Churchill was a doer, with a strong sense of duty and a reliable moral compass. His moral code was "In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Good Will". He stood up for right against injustice and aggression, and the virtue of prudence.

Nowadays he would undoubtedly stand by Ukraine against Putin and his criminal war. He would have judged Putin for what the man is: a vicious criminal, who killed using Polonium, Novichok, who had Boris Nemtsov gunned down near the Kremlin, Anna Politkovskaya in her home, who poisoned Alexei Navalny, opposition leader and anti-corruption activist, and had him killed in prison four years later. 

Trump is the exact opposite of what Wiston Churchill was and stood for. Trump shines for being unresolved, sore loser, vindicative and braggard.

[newbee2022]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Donald Trump has made a pledge that, when returns to the White House, he will immediately restore the bust of Winston Churchill to its rightful place in the Oval Office as a tribute to the iconic British leader. The move would reverse a controversial decision made by President Joe Biden, who replaced the bronze bust of Churchill with one of Hispanic civil rights leader Cesar Chavez following his victory in 2020.

 

 

Trump, a self-professed Anglophile with Scottish heritage, has long expressed his admiration for Churchill, often referring to him as his idol. A source close to the former president revealed that returning the bust of Churchill would be one of Trump's first acts upon taking office. "Donald idolizes Churchill and believes he’s the greatest leader the world has ever seen," the source said. "He will restore him to a position of honor as a mark of respect."

 

 

Trump’s admiration for Churchill is no secret. He has called the film *The Darkest Hour*, in which Gary Oldman portrays Churchill, "my favorite film ever." The bronze bust of Churchill, crafted by renowned British sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein, was originally gifted to President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 by the Wartime Friends of Winston Churchill. It remained in the Oval Office until 2009 when Barack Obama replaced it with a bust of Martin Luther King Jr., a gesture that sparked criticism in the UK.

 

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a biographer of Churchill, had famously described Obama’s decision as a sign of "an ancestral dislike of the British Empire." When Trump won the presidency in 2016, he immediately reinstated the Churchill bust, removing the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. in the process. Trump had condemned the Black Lives Matter protesters who defaced a statue of Churchill in London, calling their actions "shameful" and a disrespect to the man who "saved the world from the tyranny of Hitler."

 

Trump’s commitment to Churchill goes beyond mere symbolism. During his first term, Trump formed a close bond with Churchill’s descendants, including the 12th Duke of Marlborough, whom Trump affectionately refers to as "The Dook." The two men became fast friends, with the Duke even visiting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2019.

 

This new promise to bring back the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office is likely to draw mixed reactions. While it is seen as a symbol of the enduring bond between the United States and Britain, it also has the potential to stir political tensions. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, a vocal critic of Trump, once described him as a "deluded, dishonest, xenophobic narcissist," making it unclear whether the return of Churchill’s bust will ease relations between Trump and the UK’s Labour government.

 

Despite these potential tensions, historians and public figures have praised Trump’s decision. Andrew Roberts, a renowned Churchill biographer, expressed approval, calling it "excellent news," though he urged Trump to back up the gesture with action. "This makes sense if President Trump also adopts Churchill’s policy of defiance against totalitarian regimes that invade their neighbors," Roberts said.

 

 

Rory Stewart, a broadcaster and former Conservative MP, also welcomed the news, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a positive relationship between the UK and the U.S. "Whatever we all think of Donald Trump—and I am, to put it mildly, no fan—it’s very important for Britain that we retain a positive relationship with the President of the United States," Stewart remarked. "The U.S. remains the indispensable power in the world and the linchpin of the international order."

 

Lord Michael Dobbs, author of the *House of Cards* trilogy, also expressed his support for Trump’s decision, noting Churchill’s American roots. "It’s a beautiful sculpture. Churchill himself was half-American—his mother was born in Brooklyn," Dobbs said. "He believed that the partnership between our two countries was the best guarantee of a safe world."

 

Even Churchill’s grandson, Lord Nicholas Soames, shared his approval. "I am very glad, obviously. That’s lovely. I am delighted," Soames told the *Mail on Sunday*.

 

The potential return of the Churchill bust to the Oval Office stands as a potent symbol of Trump’s enduring admiration for the British leader, one that could shape both the cultural and political dynamics of his second term in office, should he win the presidency once again. The move underscores the significance of U.S.-UK relations, even as it highlights the deep divisions within the political landscape.

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-11-11

 

 

 

A bust of Hitler would suits him well. His roots are there!

[James105]

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

A bust of Hitler would suits him well. His roots are there!

 

Sounds like the left still have a lot of learning to do about why Trump won and the left spectacularly lost.  Maybe one day, probably after losing the next 2-3 elections, the left will learn that calling political opponents Hitler because they disagree with their political views is not a winning strategy.  

[newbee2022]

9 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Sounds like the left still have a lot of learning to do about why Trump won and the left spectacularly lost.  Maybe one day, probably after losing the next 2-3 elections, the left will learn that calling political opponents Hitler because they disagree with their political views is not a winning strategy.  

As far as I know there is nobody calling him Hitler. Do you know some?

[James105]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

As far as I know there is nobody calling him Hitler. Do you know some?

 

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

A bust of Hitler would suits him well. His roots are there!

 

[newbee2022]

7 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

 

No answer? Sorry to torture your brain too much. 🥺

[nauseus]

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

A bust of Hitler would suits him well. His roots are there!

 

Another dumb comment from a sore loser.

[newbee2022]

54 minutes ago, nauseus said:

 

Another dumb comment from a sore loser.

Another post from someone showing his average IQ (far below 100)

[nauseus]

9 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Another post from someone showing his average IQ (far below 100)

 

A brilliant riposte! 

[Caldera]

Excellent news.

[PETERTHEEATER]

I'm impressed. I expected that a man with his reputation would have Dolly Parton's bust on display.😀

[thaipo7]

2 hours ago, nauseus said:

 

Another dumb comment from a sore loser.

They don't have to be a loser for a dumb remark.  Comes natural for the Leftist.  Has anyone seen Tug?  I hope he is OK.

[G_Money]

Nice to see Trump replacing Biden’s George Floyd’s bust, “The Patron Saint of Fentanyl” with Churchill. 
 

Word is out Hunter will take possession and make a painting of George.

[Skeptic7]

4 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

I'm impressed. I expected that a man with his reputation would have Dolly Parton's bust on display.😀

Always been impressive and worthy of admiration...and absolutely worthy of the oral orifice❗😁

[RayC]

Perhaps Trump - or someone else - could commission a new bust of Churchill. Imo this one is bloody awful and should be melted down.

[BusyB]

 

Yeah, Johnson also liked to identify with Churchill.

 

The old guy must be spinning in his grave. He was a man of great courage as well as his human flaws. Neither Johnson nor Trump have even a modicum of courage to compensate for their deeply flawed characters. Bullies are always cowards behind the bluster.

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, BusyB said:

 

Yeah, Johnson also liked to identify with Churchill.

 

The old guy must be spinning in his grave. He was a man of great courage as well as his human flaws. Neither Johnson nor Trump have even a modicum of courage to compensate for their deeply flawed characters. Bullies are always cowards behind the bluster.

 

   Since when was you nominated to speak on behalf of Winston Churchill ?