Gold Trump Statue Sparks Debate at European Parliament in Strasbourg
Gold Trump statue displayed at European Parliament prompts divided reactions on political commentary and diplomatic respect.
Event / Geopolitics
Trump Gold Statue European Parliament
Satirical gold statue of Donald Trump titled 'The Orange Plague' unveiled at European Parliament in Strasbourg by Danish artist Jens Galschiot. Sculpture depicts Trump on shoulders of burdened man as commentary on climate policy and global leadership. Display scheduled through October 10, 2026, before travel to COP31 climate conference in Turkey. Right-wing MEPs criticized installation as disrespectful to US president.
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2026-10-08 to 2026-10-30 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 8 Oct, 04:37 UTC
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What happened
Barbara Bonte MEP criticizes statue as disrespectful to US president
Barbara Bonte, a right-wing populist member of the European Parliament representing the Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang party, condemned the statue's display, calling it "a disgrace." Bonte stated: "The people who lecture the world on dignity can't even manage basic respect for the president of a friendly nation."
Trump statue scheduled to travel to COP31 climate conference in Turkey
The "Orange Plague" statue is scheduled to remain at the European Parliament until Thursday before traveling to the COP31 United Nations Climate Conference in Turkey in November 2026. The sculpture previously appeared at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in 2025, the Munich Security Conference in Germany, the Rebild Festival celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the U.S., and the Stand with Greenland Demonstrations in Denmark.
Artist Jens Galschiot criticizes Trump as threat to world order and climate action
Danish artist Jens Galschiot stated that Trump represents "one of the greatest threats to the rule-based world order, democratic values and our common effort to solving the climate crisis." Galschiot explained the statue depicts his frustration with powerful leaders who prioritize themselves above people and the planet. The sculpture was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's tale "The Emperor's New Clothes," about a vain ruler tricked into parading naked.
Danish MEP Per Clausen invited Trump statue to European Parliament
Per Clausen, a Danish member of the European Parliament from the leftist Red-Green Alliance, issued an invitation for artist Jens Galschiot to bring the provocative statue into the European Parliament. Clausen stated that Trump should be able to tolerate the sculpture's exhibition and that someone who cannot do so "has no place on the world stage."
Satirical gold statue of Trump unveiled at European Parliament in Strasbourg
A 23-karat gold-coated statue titled "The Orange Plague" depicting a naked Donald Trump being carried on the shoulders of a smaller man was unveiled at the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France. The 8.5-foot-tall sculpture was created by Danish artist Jens Galschiot and installed in a major thoroughfare connecting Parliament offices. The statue shows Trump holding a golf club and the scales of justice. A plaque beneath 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."
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