Strasbourg's European Parliament building has a new, provocative addition: a 2.6-meter gold statue of a naked Donald Trump, titled The Orange Plague. Created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, the sculpture depicts the former US president sitting on the back of a smaller, frail man, holding a comically oversized golf club in one hand and a set of scales in the other.
The work, coated in 23-karat gold, is also known as King of Injustice. A plaque beneath the statue reads: "I am sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under my burden. I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back. – The King of Injustice."
Satire as political commentary
Galschiøt, known for his politically charged installations, says the piece was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Emperor's New Clothes. He describes it as a "satirical outcry" against Trump's volatile climate and foreign policies. In a statement on his website, the artist explained: "Nations as well as NGOs are afraid to openly raise the subject [of] how to deal with Trump and his policies, fearing tariffs, fund-cuts, deportations or the like. As an independent art workshop we are not restricted by such bonds. This sculpture has been made to address 'the elephant in the room' and start a necessary debate [about] how the US is destroying the world's only chance to counter the climate catastrophe."
The statue's placement in the European Parliament is no accident. It was invited by Per Clausen, a left-wing Danish MEP, who dismissed concerns about a potential reaction from Trump. "If someone is so thin-skinned that they cannot tolerate this sculpture being exhibited in the European Parliament, then they have no place on the world stage," Clausen said. As of now, Trump—who is usually quick to respond online—has not commented.
From Copenhagen to Belém to Strasbourg
This is not the first time The Orange Plague has made headlines. Earlier this year, it was displayed at the "hands off Greenland" demonstrations in Copenhagen, and it was also shown at the COP30 UN Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil, last year. The statue's journey reflects a broader European concern about US climate policy and its global impact.
Visitors to the European Parliament can take home a 3D-printed miniature of the sculpture. Galschiøt says he has printed around 20,000 miniatures, distributing them not only to visitors but also to Parliament staff.
The display has reignited debates about the role of satire in political discourse, especially within EU institutions. While some see it as a legitimate form of protest, others question whether such provocative art belongs in a setting meant for diplomatic dialogue. The European Parliament has a history of hosting symbolic exhibits, but this one is notably more pointed.
For many Europeans, the statue serves as a reminder of the tensions that have marked transatlantic relations in recent years. From trade disputes to climate disagreements, the US under Trump has often clashed with European priorities. The sculpture's presence in Strasbourg—home to the Parliament's plenary sessions—underscores the continent's unease with American leadership on key global issues.
As the debate continues, Galschiøt's work has achieved its goal: to provoke conversation. Whether it will lead to any concrete policy shifts remains to be seen, but for now, The Orange Plague stands as a gilded, unflinching critique of power and its consequences.
