Gilded Nude Trump Statue 'Orange Plague' Unveiled at European Parliament
Danish artist Jens Galschiøt has installed a controversial 8.5-foot gold-leaf statue of President Donald Trump at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Titled 'The Orange Plague,' the sculpture depicts a nude Trump riding on the back of a smaller, frail figure, symbolizing the burden of US power on the world. Sponsored by Danish MEP Per Clausen, the exhibit is a satirical critique of Trump's climate and foreign policies, with over 1,000 3D-printed miniatures distributed as 'protest tokens.'
Key points
- The 8.5-foot copper statue, covered in 23-karat gold leaf, was unveiled on Tuesday in a busy thoroughfare inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
- Titled 'The Orange Plague' and also dubbed the 'King of Injustice,' the sculpture depicts a nude Trump riding on the back of a smaller, frail figure, symbolizing the burden of US power on the world.
- The artwork was sponsored by Danish MEP Per Clausen, a member of the Red-Green Alliance party and The Left group in the European Parliament, who aims to spark debate about US power and European self-defense.
- Over 1,000 3D-printed miniatures of the statue are being distributed to passersby as 'protest tokens,' and the exhibit is expected to remain on display until Thursday.
- Galschiøt, known for provocative political artworks like the 'Pillar of Shame,' drew parallels between his new work and his previous critiques of authoritarian power, referencing Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Emperor's New Clothes' in his depiction of a nude Trump.
Background
This is not the first time Galschiøt has exhibited political art at the European Parliament; in 2024, he displayed a model of his 'Pillar of Shame' in Brussels as part of a 'forbidden art' exhibition targeting censorship in China and Hong Kong. The current exhibit follows a pattern of using provocative art to critique US foreign policy and its impact on global order, particularly regarding climate and international rules.
Why it matters
The installation highlights growing tensions between the US and the EU, particularly regarding climate policy and the rules-based international order. By placing a critical, satirical statue of the US president in the heart of the European Parliament, the exhibit forces a public conversation about US power and its perceived negative impact on global stability, challenging the diplomatic norms typically observed in such spaces.
What to watch
The statue is expected to remain on display until Thursday. Galschiøt plans to exhibit 'The Orange Plague' at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, next month. Trump has not yet commented on the artwork.
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