Fact check: Did Trump ever replace the MLK bust during his presidency?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Trump did not replace the MLK bust during his presidency. The evidence reveals a clear timeline of events:

• Initial false report: In January 2017, a Time magazine reporter erroneously tweeted that the MLK bust had been removed from the Oval Office, but later corrected himself when he confirmed the bust was still present ^{[1] [2]}.
• Trump's response: Trump himself stated that the report of the bust's removal was "fake news" and that the bust was "cherished" and "never even touched" ^[3].
• Reporting error explanation: The mistake occurred because reporter Zeke Miller did not see the bust due to it being obscured by a door and an agent during his visit to the Oval Office ^[2].

However, there are conflicting reports from 2025 suggesting the bust was moved from the Oval Office to Trump's private dining room ^{[4] [5] [6]}, though these sources do not indicate it was "replaced" with another item.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial pieces of context:

• The distinction between "removal" and "relocation": Some sources indicate the bust was moved to Trump's private dining area rather than completely removed from the White House ^{[4] [5] [6]}.
• Timeline confusion: The analyses span from 2017 to 2025, with earlier sources from 2017 definitively stating the bust remained in the Oval Office ^{[1] [3] [2]}, while 2025 sources suggest it was moved ^{[5] [6]}.
• The original controversy's impact: The false 2017 report sparked significant debate about Trump's stance on civil rights, which may have influenced later narratives about the bust's status ^[6].
• Media correction process: The original error was quickly corrected by the reporter who made the mistake, demonstrating journalistic accountability ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral, but the conflicting analyses reveal potential misinformation issues:

• Temporal inconsistency: There's a significant discrepancy between 2017 sources that confirm the bust remained in the Oval Office ^{[3] [2]} and 2025 sources claiming it was moved to a private dining room ^{[5] [6]}.
• Sensationalized reporting: Some 2025 sources describe the move as "quietly" removing the bust and suggest it "sparked controversy," potentially amplifying the significance of what may have been a routine office arrangement ^{[5] [6]}.
• Lack of verification: The 2025 sources do not provide clear evidence or official confirmation of when or why the bust was allegedly moved, raising questions about the reliability of these later claims.

The question assumes the bust was "replaced," but none of the analyses confirm this specific action occurred - they only discuss removal, relocation, or the debunking of removal claims.