A bronze statue of Melania Trump, created by U.S. artist Brad Downey, has gone missing from Sevnica, Slovenia, her hometown. Unveiled in September 2020, this statue was a replacement for an earlier wooden version that was burned on the Fourth of July a year prior. The mystical journey of the statue, which first appeared on the banks of the River Sava, had followed Melania's transition back to the White House and then to the spotlight of American politics.
Now, all that remains of her statue are its feet and a two-meter tall tree stump that used to support it. The authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, treating it as a theft. Brad Downey had originally hoped to create a durable tribute that could withstand vandalism, but the statue met a similar fate as its wooden predecessor.
In previous statements, Downey had highlighted how the creation of the statue was both personal and political, reflecting on Melania Trump’s rapid path to U.S. citizenship while contrasting it with the experiences of other immigrants during her husband's presidency. He suggests that the statue's disappearance may be tied to ongoing political sentiments, possibly linked to Trump’s potential re-election efforts.
While local officials condemned any interference with public or private property, they also recognized that many residents felt no pride in the First Lady’s image, further complicating the local sentiment towards the artwork. Sevnica remains a town steeped in complex relationships with its most famous daughter, as the tale of her tribute takes yet another unexpected turn.
