Downing Street has said the US President can decorate the Oval Office, “as he sees fit” after Joe Biden removed a bust of Winston Churchill last night.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticised former President Barrack Obama for removing the bust in 2016.

Donald Trump returned the bust to the office for his four-year term; however, President Biden has now replaced it with a bust of trade union leader Cesar Chavez.

His redecoration of the office also includes sculptures of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks.

The newly decorated Oval Office at the White House, 20-01-2021. Image: Sipa USA/SIPA USA/PA Images

This afternoon, Mr Johnson’s official spokesman told IRN: “The Oval Office is the president's private office and it's up to the president to decorate it as he wishes.

“I would point you back to what the prime minister has said previously about looking forward to working closely with Joe Biden.

“We're in no doubt of the importance that President Biden places on the UK and US relationship, and the prime minister looks forward to having a close relationship with him.”

UK Prime Minister Theresa May meeting US President Donald Trump by a bust of Sir Winston Churchill in the Oval Office, 27-01-2017. Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive/PA Images

In a 2016 newspaper column, Mr Johnson referenced President Obama's Kenyan heritage while criticising him for removing the bust, claiming it could be viewed as a ‘snub to Britain.’

Asked about the previous criticism, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “It's for the president to decorate the Oval Office as he sees fit but we have a continuing close special relationship with the US and the prime minister looks forward to continuing that.”