Gilded statue of nude Trump goes on display at European Parliament
In short
A 2.5-metre gold-plated statue of a nude Donald Trump, titled “Orange Plague”, was put on display at the European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg, France, on 6 October local time. The statue, by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, depicts Trump holding a golf club while standing on the back of a much smaller man and is scheduled to remain on view until 8 October. The White House has given no particular position on the work, Yonhap reported, citing the same absence of comment last year.
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A gold-plated statue of a nude Donald Trump went on display inside the European Parliament headquarters building in Strasbourg, France, on 6 October local time, according to Yonhap and Kyunghyang Shinmun, both citing German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle and other German media. The work is titled “Orange Plague” and is scheduled to remain on view until 8 October, Yonhap and Dong-A Ilbo reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The statue is 2.5 metres tall and plated in 23K fine gold. It depicts Trump holding a golf club in one hand while standing on the back of a man far smaller in build than he is. A card placed beside it quotes the “King of Injustice” as saying, “I am sitting on a man’s back. I will do anything to help him — except get off his back.” The reports describe the work as likening Trump to the emperor in the fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and satirising him as an oppressor of the weak. [ 1 , 2 ]
Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, who made the statue, said Trump has obstructed countries’ efforts to respond to climate change and that he created the work to criticise this, according to the reports. Danish MEP Per Clausen, who pushed for the display, told DPA that if someone is so sensitive to criticism that he cannot tolerate such a sculpture being shown in the European Parliament, he would not be qualified to stand on the world stage. [ 1 , 2 ]
The statue had previously been exhibited publicly on the street during the 30th UN climate change conference (COP30) in Brazil last year. Yonhap reported that the White House issued no particular position either last year or this year. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The display places a satirical artwork directed at a sitting US president inside the building of an EU institution, arranged with the involvement of a sitting member of the European Parliament. The choice of venue and the lawmaker’s remark to DPA frame it as a statement about tolerance of criticism rather than a purely artistic exhibition. Beyond the immediate display dates, the documents give no indication of further consequences.
Key facts
- A statue titled “Orange Plague” depicting a nude Donald Trump was displayed inside the European Parliament headquarters building in Strasbourg on 6 October local time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The statue is 2.5 metres tall and plated in 23K gold, and shows Trump holding a golf club while standing on the back of a man much smaller than him. [ 1 , 2 ]
- A card beside the statue quotes the “King of Injustice” saying he sits on a man’s back and will do anything to help him except get off his back. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Danish artist Jens Galschiøt said he made the work to criticise Trump for obstructing countries’ efforts on climate change. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Danish MEP Per Clausen, who pushed for the display, told DPA that anyone too sensitive to criticism to tolerate such a sculpture in the European Parliament would not be qualified to stand on the world stage. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The statue was previously publicly exhibited on the street during COP30 in Brazil last year. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The White House issued no particular position either last year or this year, according to Yonhap. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The statue is scheduled to be on display until 8 October. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A gold-plated statue of a nude Donald Trump was displayed at the European Parliament headquarters building in Strasbourg. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The work is titled “Orange Plague”, is 2.5 metres tall, is plated in 23K gold and depicts Trump with a golf club on the back of a smaller man. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Danish artist Jens Galschiøt made the statue and said he did so to criticise Trump’s record on climate change. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Danish MEP Per Clausen promoted the display and commented on it to DPA. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The statue had earlier been shown publicly on the street during COP30 in Brazil the previous year. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The White House has not given a particular position on the statue, as was also the case last year. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The display is set to run until 8 October. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Who the smaller man under the statue represents. The documents describe the figure only as a man much smaller in build than Trump and do not say who or what he stands for.
- Whether the White House will comment on the display this year. Documents state only that no particular position was issued last year and this year, without saying whether a response is expected.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The statue titled “Orange Plague” goes on display inside the European Parliament headquarters building in Strasbourg (local time; no specific hour given in the documents). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Yonhap publishes its report, citing Deutsche Welle. [ 1 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun publishes its report. [ 2 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo publishes its summary. [ 3 ]
- The statue is scheduled to remain on display until this date. [ 1 , 3 ]