The disappearance adds another chapter to the bizarre saga of tributes to the iconic figure from Sevnica.
**Melania Trump Statue Disappears from Birthplace in Slovenia**
**Melania Trump Statue Disappears from Birthplace in Slovenia**
A bronze statue of Melania Trump vanishes just months after the former First Lady left the White House.
The bronze statue of Melania Trump, created by US artist Brad Downey, has gone missing from her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, stirring intrigue and controversy. The statue, which was unveiled in September 2020 and stood on the banks of the River Sava, was a tribute to Melania, born Melanija Knavs, just months before she left the White House.
Local authorities reported that only the statue's feet and a two-meter-tall tree stump remain in its place, suggesting it was deliberately removed rather than harmed outright. The incident comes four months after a tumultuous political era, with the artist expressing suspicion that the theft is connected to the ongoing narrative surrounding Donald Trump’s political career.
This is not the first time a tribute to Melania has faced a traumatic fate. The initial wooden statue, crafted by local artist Ales "Maxi" Zupevc in July 2019, was destroyed in a bizarre act of vandalism, becoming a bonfire on July 4th. Downey had created a bronze version in anticipation of potential destruction, claiming it would be more durable and difficult to damage. Despite best efforts, it appears that even this version was not immune to controversy, as it was reportedly chopped off at the ankles and stolen.
Authorities in Sevnica are treating the incident as theft and have initiated an investigation. They expressed a complex relationship with the statue, having condemned the interference with property but simultaneously acknowledging that the image of the First Lady is not a source of pride within their community. The narrative reflects the ongoing tension in Slovenia with regard to Melania Trump’s legacy and her connection to American politics.
Local authorities reported that only the statue's feet and a two-meter-tall tree stump remain in its place, suggesting it was deliberately removed rather than harmed outright. The incident comes four months after a tumultuous political era, with the artist expressing suspicion that the theft is connected to the ongoing narrative surrounding Donald Trump’s political career.
This is not the first time a tribute to Melania has faced a traumatic fate. The initial wooden statue, crafted by local artist Ales "Maxi" Zupevc in July 2019, was destroyed in a bizarre act of vandalism, becoming a bonfire on July 4th. Downey had created a bronze version in anticipation of potential destruction, claiming it would be more durable and difficult to damage. Despite best efforts, it appears that even this version was not immune to controversy, as it was reportedly chopped off at the ankles and stolen.
Authorities in Sevnica are treating the incident as theft and have initiated an investigation. They expressed a complex relationship with the statue, having condemned the interference with property but simultaneously acknowledging that the image of the First Lady is not a source of pride within their community. The narrative reflects the ongoing tension in Slovenia with regard to Melania Trump’s legacy and her connection to American politics.
