In a surreal twist that might suit a Wes Anderson film, the bronze statue of Melania Trump has mysteriously vanished from her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia—leaving behind only its feet and a tree stump.
The statue, installed in July 2020 on the banks of the River Sava, was a bronze version of a previous wooden tribute that had been burnt down on July 4, 2020, a year after its 2019 unveiling. Both versions were commissioned by American artist Brad Downey, who intended the work to spark political conversation. The first was sculpted by Ales “Maxi” Zupevc, a local artisan with a background similar to Melania’s.
Despite Downey’s claim that the bronze remake was indestructible, it was hacked off at the ankles and stolen—a move Slovenian police are now treating as theft.
Downey speculates that the disappearance may be politically motivated, possibly linked to Donald Trump’s re-election. The statue had previously symbolized contrasts between Melania’s privileged immigration path and the struggles of other immigrants under Trump’s restrictive policies.
Local authorities in Sevnica, while denouncing vandalism, admitted the statue never inspired much local pride, reflecting divided opinions about the First Lady’s legacy.
