Gilded statue of naked Trump unveiled in European Parliament in Strasbourg
In short
A gilded statue of a naked Donald Trump with a golf club, sitting on the shoulders of a man, was put on display in the European Parliament building in Strasbourg. Vedomosti, citing Newsweek, identified the work as “The Orange Plague” by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, a satire on Trump’s attacks on the “rules-based world order” and on climate action. It is to remain in the building until October 8 before being sent to Turkey for the COP31 climate conference.
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A gilded statue of a naked Donald Trump holding a golf club and sitting on the shoulders of a man was put on display in the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, according to RBC, TASS, RIA Novosti and Vedomosti. Vedomosti, citing Newsweek, said the sculpture is by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt and is titled “The Orange Plague.” TASS, citing Spiegel, described a gilded statue of the US president with a golf club sitting on a man’s shoulders. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Vedomosti reported the sculpture is 2.6 metres tall and that the figure is covered in 23-carat gold leaf. Beneath it, according to the same report, is an inscription reading “I sit on the back of a man. He bends under my weight. I will do everything to help him. Except getting off his back. – The King of Injustice.” Galschiøt said the sculpture is a satire on Trump, on his attacks on the “rules-based world order” and on action to fight climate change, Vedomosti reported. RBC reported that the creator said the work’s aim was to condemn US international policy and its climate actions. [ 1 , 4 ]
The exhibition was organized by Danish MEP Per Clausen, a member of the left group, Vedomosti reported. According to the same report, Clausen said the work should draw attention to the American president’s policies and their effect on international relations. [ 4 ]
Vedomosti reported that the statue will remain in the European Parliament building until October 8, after which it is to be sent to Turkey, where the COP31 UN climate conference is due to be held in November. The report said the work had already been shown at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, at the Munich Security Conference and at “Hands off Greenland” actions in Copenhagen. [ 4 ]
Against that background, Vedomosti cited Trump’s statement of October 2 that Europe is in a critical situation because of its current migration policy: “Look at what is happening in Europe. They are simply being eaten alive.” [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The display places a satirical work aimed at the US president inside a European Union institution, organized by a sitting MEP, tying a domestic EU political gesture to transatlantic climate and foreign policy disputes. The planned move to the COP31 climate conference in Turkey extends the work’s use as a climate-policy statement beyond Strasbourg.
Key facts
- A gilded statue of a naked Donald Trump holding a golf club and sitting on the shoulders of a man was displayed in the European Parliament building in Strasbourg [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Vedomosti, citing Newsweek, said the sculpture by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt is titled “The Orange Plague” [ 4 ]
- The sculpture is 2.6 metres tall and is covered in 23-carat gold leaf, according to Vedomosti [ 4 ]
- The exhibition was organized by Danish MEP Per Clausen, a member of the left group [ 4 ]
- The statue is to stay in the European Parliament building until October 8 and is then to be sent to Turkey for the COP31 UN climate conference in November [ 4 ]
- RBC reported that the creator said the work’s aim was to condemn US international policy and its climate actions [ 1 ]
- On October 2 Trump said Europe was in a critical situation because of its migration policy, saying “Look at what is happening in Europe. They are simply being eaten alive” [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the sculpture in the European Parliament is the same work previously shown at other venues Only Vedomosti lists earlier showings, citing Newsweek; the other documents do not mention them.
- The exact English title and the artist’s name transliteration Vedomosti gives “The Orange Plague” and the name in Russian transliteration (Галсхиот/Гальшиот); other documents do not name the artist or title.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Trump says Europe is in a critical situation because of its migration policy, according to Vedomosti [ 4 ]
- RBC reports the statue was displayed in the European Parliament and the creator’s stated aim [ 1 ]
- TASS, citing Spiegel, reports a gilded statue of the naked Trump with a golf club was installed [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti reports the statue was displayed in the European Parliament [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti publishes details of the work, its organizer and its schedule, citing Newsweek [ 4 ]