Melania Trump's bronze statue disappears from Slovenian field
A bronze statue of Melania Trump, set up near her hometown in Slovenia, has gone missing, prompting a police investigation. The statue, which stood in a quiet field in the village of Rožno, about 15 minutes from Sevnica, was found sawed off at the ankles earlier this week, with only the bronze stumps left behind.
Police in Slovenia confirmed the theft was reported on Tuesday, though they are still trying to determine exactly when the statue was taken. 'Police are still assessing the theft, and an investigation is still ongoing,' Alenka Drenik Rangus, a police spokesperson, told the Associated Press (AP).
The life-size sculpture was was revealed to the public in 2020, replacing an earlier wooden version that had been set on fire in July that same year. The original was carved from a tree using a chainsaw and was painted to resemble the blue dress Melania Trump wore to her husband's 2017 inauguration. That first statue was widely mocked for its rough appearance.
American artist Brad Downey had commissioned both versions of the statue. Speaking to The New York Times previously, Downey said he had aimed to provoke thought about Donald Trump's immigration policies by installing the statue in Slovenia, the country Melania left in 1985.
The bronze version, though more durable, didn't win over many locals either. 'I only saw it in pictures, and I thought it was very unesthetic,' Nena Bedek, an art teacher who went to school with Melania Trump, told The New York Times. 'I had the feeling someone was making fun.'
The statue stood alone on a tree stump in a privately owned field overlooking the Sava River. While its location was scenic, it wasn't a common destination for residents or tourists. Some locals suggested the statue may have been vandalised or stolen for the value of its metal. Others believed it had little to do with politics. 'It could have been an act of vandalism or maybe melted down for money,' one resident told The New York Times.
Franja Kranjc, who works at a bakery in Sevnica that sells cakes named after the former First Lady, said the statue wouldn't be missed. 'I think no one was really proud at this statue, not even the First Lady of the USA,' he told the AP. 'So I think it's OK that it's removed.'
Despite Melania Trump not having returned to Sevnica since leaving the country, the town continues to market her name. Local businesses offer Melania-branded chocolates, slippers, and a white chocolate cake served at a local hotel. Her image also appears in paintings and souvenirs.
Still, not everyone in the town agreed with the way the statue represented its most famous former resident. 'I think she deserves a nice landmark,' said Meri Kelemina, who lives nearby.
Police say their investigation continues, but so far, no one has claimed responsibility for the theft.
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