Disgust of Trump Reaches New Levels in Europe
A gilded statue of Donald Trump titled "Orange Plague," also known as "King of Injustice," is on display this week inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
Danish artist Jens Galschiøt was invited to show the work by Danish MEP Per Clausen. The copper sculpture, covered in 23-karat gold leaf and standing about 2.6 meters (8.5 feet), depicts a naked Trump seated on the shoulders of a much smaller, clothed man. He holds the scales of justice in one hand and a golf club in the other, beside a golf ball shaped like the Earth.
The plinth reads: "I am sitting on the back of a man. He is sinking under my burden. I will do anything to help him. Except stepping down from his back."
Galschiøt says the piece was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes," the story of a vain ruler whose subjects are too afraid to tell him he is naked. "Trump represents one of the greatest threats to the rules-based world order, democratic values, and our common effort to solve the climate crisis," he said. "We must address this issue and stand together against such destructive influence."