The iconic bronze statue of Melania Trump, created by artist Brad Downey, has mysteriously vanished from her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia. The life-sized tribute, which was unveiled back in September 2020, was situated along the River Sava, a prominent reminder of Melania’s roots just prior to her departure from the White House. Now, only the statue's feet remain on the two-meter-high stump it once stood on, prompting local police to classify the incident as theft and initiate an investigation.
This isn’t the first time a statue honoring Melania has met an unfortunate fate. The inaugural representation, crafted from wood by local artist Ales "Maxi" Zupevc in July 2019, was set ablaze on Independence Day the following year. Downey, who had commissioned the work, managed to have a bronze replica made before the incident. He emphasized that the new sculpture was constructed from durable material, intended to resist wanton destruction. Sadly, this latest version also faced a dramatic end, as it was apparently severed from its pedestal in an undignified manner.
Brad Downey has always approached his work with a political lens, reflecting on the contrasting experiences of immigrants. He highlighted the rapid citizenship process enjoyed by Melania compared to the barriers faced by others, attributing the statue's disappearance to potential political motivations linked to Trump’s re-election campaign. The local authorities have expressed condemnation of vandalism and theft but noted that the image of the former First Lady does not evoke pride in the community.
This isn’t the first time a statue honoring Melania has met an unfortunate fate. The inaugural representation, crafted from wood by local artist Ales "Maxi" Zupevc in July 2019, was set ablaze on Independence Day the following year. Downey, who had commissioned the work, managed to have a bronze replica made before the incident. He emphasized that the new sculpture was constructed from durable material, intended to resist wanton destruction. Sadly, this latest version also faced a dramatic end, as it was apparently severed from its pedestal in an undignified manner.
Brad Downey has always approached his work with a political lens, reflecting on the contrasting experiences of immigrants. He highlighted the rapid citizenship process enjoyed by Melania compared to the barriers faced by others, attributing the statue's disappearance to potential political motivations linked to Trump’s re-election campaign. The local authorities have expressed condemnation of vandalism and theft but noted that the image of the former First Lady does not evoke pride in the community.
