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Winston Churchill bust back in Oval Office

In one of his first acts, President Trump has moved a bust of Winston Churchill into the White House.

Conservatives were outraged when Obama removed a bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office and sent it back to the British Embassy. Obama’s office said the bust was a copy was given to President Bush while the original was being repaired. He replaced it with the King Jr. bust that is now gone.

“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,” Obama said.

An identical Churchill bust given to President Lyndon B. Johnson was kept outside the Treaty Room in the White House.

The bust of King Jr. was not removed, as previously stated by a White House pool reporter. It was merely obscured by a door.

Live coverage of Trump’s inauguration
The U.S. Capitol frames the backdrop over the stage during a rehearsal of President-elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony this week in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Donald Trump will be sworn in Friday during an inauguration that’s expected to draw between 700,000 and 900,000 people. Security officials said there are 63 demonstration groups, pro and con, also expected Friday. Follow our liveblog for updates through this afternoon’s inaugural parade.

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