A towering sculpture depicting a naked, 23-karat-gold-coated Donald Trump being carried by a burdened man has been displayed inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
Danish artist Jens Galschiot described his 8.5-foot-tall work, satirically titled “The Orange Plague,” as a commentary on “powerful leaders who put themselves above people and the planet, and use their power to decide for others.” Galschiot stated via email that the sculpture represents “power and powerlessness.”
This piece is an evolution of Galschiot's 2002 sculpture “Survival of the Fattest,” which addressed global resource inequality by showing an emaciated boy carrying a larger woman. In this new iteration, Trump assumes the role of the woman.
Galschiot created the sculpture, also known as “King of Injustice,” with the COP30 United Nations climate summit in Belém, Brazil, scheduled for 2025 in mind. He cited Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes” as an inspiration, reflecting on a vain ruler tricked into believing he was dressed when he was, in fact, naked.
The club Trump holds in the sculpture is also symbolic, Galschiot explained, representing the privileged individual who believes they can control the world, likening it to playing golf.
Per Clausen, a Danish member of the European Parliament from the Red-Green Alliance, invited Galschiot to display the artwork within the institution. "It brings an important discussion of how to deal with a guy who wants to influence and decide in the EU," Galschiot said.
Upon its unveiling, the artist reported the reaction was immediate, marked by "a few seconds of silence, then applause, laughter and serious discussions."
Trump has not issued a public statement regarding the sculpture. Galschiot expressed his hope that Trump will see the artwork and notice the man carrying him rather than just the gold. If Trump were to stand before the sculpture, Galschiot stated he would tell the former president, “Get off our backs.”
