Melania Trump's Statue Disappears from Home Town in Slovenia

The statue, crafted by American artist Brad Downey and unveiled in September 2020, was situated in Sevnica, Slovenia, until its mysterious disappearance recently. It originally appeared in July 2020, shortly before Melania Trump left the White House, and quickly became a subject of controversy. This statue is not the first tribute to the former First Lady to meet a tragic fate; a wooden version was set ablaze during a Fourth of July celebration in 2019. Downey had initially sought to create a more durable bronze version, intended to withstand damages, but the statue has now inexplicably been wrenched away, leaving only its feet behind on a two-meter-high stump. Local police are treating the incident as theft and have initiated an investigation into the matter. Downey has expressed suspicion that the disappearance ties into the political climate surrounding Donald Trump's potential reelection. Meanwhile, the local authorities have expressed mixed feelings about the statue, denouncing the theft while noting that Melania's image does not inspire local pride.