Back in 2009, the young, charismatic new president succeeded the White House after George W Bush.
There’s always changes made when a new Commander-in-Chief enters the Oval Office, from carpet and curtains to pictures and portraits, however one in particular caused a stir.
Reports claimed a bust of Churchill was returned to the British embassy and replaced with one of Martin Luther King, despite the bronze sculpture of the British prime minister having sat in the president’s office under Bush.
Then when Trump took office in January last year, he asked for the bust back, just in time for Theresa May’s visit to the White House. Now as Darkest Hour hits cinemas, Churchill’s grandson Sir Nicholas, has revealed what he claims is the truth behind the bust controversy.
The 69-year-old Conservative MP exclusively told Express.co.uk: “No he didn’t get rid of it. When Obama became president, the then British ambassador had lent George 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.”
Sir Nicholas, who praised the new Darkest Hour Churchill film, wasn’t so sure of what his grandfather would have thought of Trump having a bust of his head.
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.”