Donald Trump has long been a magnet for artistic provocation. From murals to carnival floats, creators have used his image to mock, warn, and critique. Among the most effective mediums is the statue—a form that plays directly on Trump's well-documented affinity for gilded, monumental aesthetics. By exaggerating his likeness, artists expose the vanity and narcissism often associated with his public persona.
The latest addition is The Orange Plague, a 2.6-meter gold-coated statue by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt. It depicts a nude Trump holding a comically oversized golf club and a set of scales, perched on the back of a smaller, frail man. The plaque 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."
Galschiøt describes the work as a "satirical outcry" against Trump's climate and foreign policies. The statue has traveled widely: it was shown at the "hands off Greenland" demonstrations in Copenhagen, at the COP30 UN Climate Summit in Belém, Brazil, and most recently at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. It is now headed to the COP31 conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
Five statues that captured the moment
Before The Orange Plague makes its next appearance, here are other notable Trump statues that have sparked conversation.
The Emperor Has No Balls (2016)
Five 1.95-meter-tall statues were installed in Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle. Made of clay and silicone, they showed a naked Trump with missing parts—the title says it all. Authorities quickly removed them, with New York's Parks Department delivering a memorable line: it "stands firmly against any unpermitted erection in city parks, no matter how small."
Dump Trump (2019)
Created by Don Lessem, this 4.9-meter statue showed Trump sitting on a golden toilet, phone in hand, wearing a MAGA hat that read "Impeach Me!". It appeared in London's Trafalgar Square during Trump's UK visit and later at his Salute to America event in Washington, D.C. The effigy emitted flatulence sounds and played Trump catchphrases like "I'm a very stable genius" and "fake news."
Statue of Illiberty (2019)
Near Kamnik, Slovenia, artist Tomaž Schlegl erected a wooden statue with two faces: one resembling Trump with red lips, the other a vampire-like visage. It was a warning, Schlegl suggested. The statue was burned down a year later, echoing the fate of his earlier Melania Trump statue in Sevnica.
In Honor of a Lifetime of Sexual Assault (2024)
Anonymous artists placed two satirical statues in Portland and Philadelphia, referencing Trump's legal troubles. The title itself was a pointed critique, and the statues drew attention to ongoing debates about accountability.
These works, while often humorous, serve a serious purpose: they remind us that art can be a powerful tool for political commentary. As Galschiøt's statue travels from Strasbourg to Antalya, it continues to provoke thought about the intersection of power, ego, and public scrutiny.
