Statues satirizing former President Donald Trump are emerging not only in Washington, D.C., but have also appeared in other cities recently. Last week, two bronze-colored statues caused a sensation in the nation’s capital.
One statue depicted a replica of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk, which was defaced with a pile of excrement, visible from the U.S. Capitol. The plaque attached to this statue commemorates the individuals who breached the Capitol on January 6, 2021, with the intent to overturn the presidential election.
During the weekend, a sculpture of a hand clutching a tiki torch, similar to those used by white supremacists during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, was installed near the White House. The plaque on this sculpture is dedicated to Trump and the individuals he supported during that rally.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, similar statues have temporarily appeared. Featuring a life-sized model of a Trump suit-clad figure positioned next to an existing statue of a woman, these installations were labeled as being in “In Honor of a Lifetime of Sexual Assault.” The plaques included quotes from a 2005 Access Hollywood tape, where a hot mic caught Trump discussing inappropriate conduct toward women.
The incidents of Trump statues reference accusations leveled against him, with several women openly accusing him of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s, allegations Trump has denied. New allegations were brought forward last week by former Sports Illustrated model Stacey Williams, claiming Trump groped her in 1993 while watched by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In Portland, the Trump statue appeared near a sculpture existing since 1975, known for its appearance in the “Expose Yourself to Art” poster featuring future Portland Mayor Bud Clark. However, the statue did not remain intact for long; it was dismantled by passersby until only a golden shoe was left. Brandon Farley, a Portland City Council candidate, was identified as one of those who dismantled the statue, capturing the event on video.
In Maja Park, Philadelphia, a Trump statue was placed 15 feet behind and facing a statue by Gerhard Marcks, installed in 2021. City workers removed this statue and placed it into a pickup truck.
The artist or artists responsible for these installations remain unknown, although the styles and plaques of the statues suggest they might be connected. The bronze sculptures in Washington, D.C., are reportedly intended to symbolize democratic principles, according to Civic Crafted LLC, which secured a permit to display them. The structure near the White House is permitted to remain until Thursday, while the one replicating Pelosi’s desk will stay until the day after Election Day.
