The eight-foot sculpture, titled The Orange Plague, depicts Donald Trump naked on a smaller man’s shoulders and has been presented by its creator as a protest against the President’s climate and foreign policies.
A gold-plated statue portraying Donald Trump completely naked has been unveiled inside the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, with its Danish creator describing the provocative installation as a political statement against the American President.
Named The Orange Plague, the eight-foot sculpture was created by Jens Galschiøt and is covered in 23-karat gold leaf. It depicts Trump holding a golf club and a globe-shaped ball in one hand, alongside a set of scales in the other, while sitting on the shoulders of a much smaller man.
Statue delivers pointed political message
The sculpture’s base carries a satirical statement attributed to “The King of Injustice”, portraying a powerful figure who refuses to relieve the burden placed on another person.
“I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back.”
Inscription on The Orange Plague
Galschiøt has described the artwork as a “satirical outcry” against what he sees as volatility in American climate and foreign policy.
In a statement, the sculptor argued that Trump’s approach posed a threat to international cooperation, democratic principles and efforts to tackle climate change.
“Trump represents one of the greatest threats to the rule-based world order, democratic values, and our common effort to solving the climate crisis,”
Galschiøt also called for people to unite against what he considers the President’s destructive influence.
Danish MEP defends controversial artwork
Danish MEP Per Clausen welcomed the statue’s unveiling, defending its presence at the European Parliament and criticising anyone who might object to its exhibition.
Clausen said:
“If someone is so thin-skinned that they cannot tolerate this sculpture being exhibited in the European Parliament, then they have no place on the world stage.”
Artist revisits global inequality sculpture
The installation draws on Galschiøt’s earlier sculpture, Survival of the Fattest, which depicts an emaciated boy carrying an overweight woman as a representation of global inequality.
The new work applies a similar visual approach to its criticism of Trump, using an exaggerated depiction of power and physical burden to convey the artist’s political message.
Trump has faced similar portrayals
The Strasbourg installation is not the first time Trump has been depicted nude in a public artwork. Ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, a 43-foot sculpture of the Republican leader toured several swing states, including Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan.
During the run-up to the 2016 election, five life-size Trump figures were also erected around the country. Plaques accompanying those sculptures carried the message “The Emperor Has No Balls.”
Statue expected at climate summit
The Orange Plague is scheduled to remain in Strasbourg until Thursday before being displayed again in November at the UN COP31 Climate Conference in Turkey.
Galschiøt also plans to distribute miniature, 3D-printed versions of the sculpture to delegates attending the conference, extending the artwork’s political message beyond the European Parliament.