A life-size bronze statue of Melania Trump has gone missing from her hometown in Slovenia. The local police are currently investigating the theft of the sculpture, which had replaced a wooden statue that was set on fire last year.
The bronze statue was unveiled in 2020 in Sevnica, a town in central Slovenia where Melania Trump was born in 1970. It was a notable piece of art during Donald Trump’s presidency. Police spokesperson Alenka Drenik Rangus reported that officers were alerted to the statue’s disappearance on Tuesday and are working to find those responsible.
Photos reveal that the statue was sawn off at the ankles before being removed. This incident has drawn mixed reactions from the local community. One bakery worker, Franja Kranjc, who sells cakes named after Melania Trump, expressed that the statue was not well-regarded. She mentioned, “I think no one was really proud of this statue, not even the first lady of the USA. So I think it’s OK that it’s removed.”
The original statue, made from a linden tree trunk, depicted Melania in a pale blue dress similar to one she wore during her husband’s inauguration in 2017. This wooden statue was unveiled in July 2019 but was burned in July 2020.
As the investigation continues, the fate of the bronze statue remains unclear, leaving the community to reflect on the controversial legacy of its most famous resident.