Fact check: Did Martin Luther King’s bust get relocated in the White House?

1. Summary of the results

Yes, Martin Luther King Jr.'s bust was relocated within the White House. Multiple sources confirm that the bust was moved from the Oval Office to President Trump's private dining room in June 2025 ^{[1] [2] [3]}. This relocation occurred as part of broader changes Trump made to the Oval Office upon taking office.

The move generated significant social media backlash, with many critics viewing it as "a slap in the face to civil rights" and evidence of Trump's "deep-seated racism" ^[4]. The relocation was characterized as part of Trump's broader pattern of removing symbols associated with racial and social progress ^{[3] [5]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• The bust wasn't removed entirely - it was relocated to Trump's private dining room rather than being completely eliminated from the White House ^{[1] [2]}
• This was part of broader Oval Office changes - the MLK bust removal coincided with other decorative modifications Trump made to personalize the space ^[2]
• The move was described as "quiet" - suggesting it wasn't announced publicly but discovered by media outlets ^{[1] [5]}
• Historical precedent exists - presidents routinely redecorate the Oval Office to reflect their preferences, though the symbolic significance of removing civil rights iconography carries particular weight
• The timing matters - this occurred in June 2025, early in Trump's presidency, as part of his initial office setup

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question is factually neutral and doesn't contain explicit misinformation. However, it could be misleading by omission:

• The phrasing "relocated" is accurate but doesn't specify that the bust remained within the White House premises
• The question doesn't indicate the symbolic significance that civil rights advocates and critics attributed to this action
• It fails to mention that this was one of multiple changes Trump made to the Oval Office, potentially making it seem like an isolated action targeting MLK specifically

The sources themselves show clear editorial bias in their framing - describing the move as part of an effort to "erase symbols of racial and social progress" ^[5] and "rollback of civil rights iconography" ^[3]. Civil rights organizations and Democratic politicians would benefit from framing this as evidence of racial insensitivity, while Trump supporters might benefit from portraying it as routine presidential prerogative to personalize their workspace.