Melania Trump Statue Mysteriously Vanishes from Slovenian Hometown

Local authorities in Sevnica are left baffled after the statue dedicated to Melania Trump, unveiled in September 2020, has gone missing just months after the former First Lady's departure from the White House.

The bronze statue of Melania Trump, crafted by artist Brad Downey, was reported missing from its display site along the River Sava in Sevnica, Slovenia. Originally unveiled in July 2020, its disappearance has garnered widespread attention, notably because this isn't the first instance of a tribute to the former First Lady meeting a bizarre fate. The first wooden version, created by Slovenian artisan Ales "Maxi" Zupevc, was burnt during Fourth of July celebrations in 2019, prompting the creation of the more durable bronze statue.

Despite hopes that the new statue, which was designed to be almost indestructible, would avoid a similar fate, it seems it was severed from its base and taken away. All that remains in its place is a pair of bronze feet and a two-meter tree stump, raising questions about the motives behind its removal. Local police have classified the incident as theft and are actively investigating.

Brad Downey, the artist behind the bronze tribute, expressed his belief that the disappearance may be linked to political sentiments surrounding Trump's potential reelection. He collaborated with Maxi due to their shared backgrounds and has long maintained that his work highlights the contradictions in Melania Trump's ascent to American citizenship against her husband's stringent immigration policies.

While the local government condemned the act of removing the statue, they also acknowledged a lack of pride associated with Melania Trump's image among Sevnica's residents, showcasing a community divided on the legacy of its most famous inhabitant.