New Delhi: United States President Donald Trump has a new achievement added to his collection, but this one is far from flattering.
A 2.6-metre, 23-karat gold-coated sculpture titled “The Orange Plague” has gone on display inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, it depicts a naked Trump sitting on the shoulders of a smaller man, golf club in hand.
“Donald Trump is back in the US where he is undermining the climate efforts, rolling back hard-won progress, and even destroying the scientific data that documents it. Worse yet, he is using power and economic pressure to discourage other nations from pursuing green initiatives — thereby weakening the global fight against climate change,” read the description available at Jens Galschiøt’s website.
‘One of the greatest threats’
Trump’s statue currently resides at an intersection connecting two of the parliament’s buildings. A card near the statue reads, “King of Injustice” is “sitting on the back of a man” who is sinking under the burden.
“I would do anything to help him, except stepping down from his back,” the card added.
First made in 2025, the state drew inspiration from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes (1837). The fairytale is about a “vain ruler” who parades naked with the belief that he is dressed in the finest garments. In the story, the illusion finally breaks after a child cries out. Eventually, the emperor is made fun of. Galschiøt deliberately used gold symbolising wealth and privilege and power “reserved for himself and his inner circle.”
“Like Andersen’s emperor, he believes the gold makes him great. It merely makes his nakedness shine brighter,” Galschiøt wrote on his website.
“Trump represents one of the greatest threats to the rule-based world order, democratic values and our common effort to solve the climate crisis. We must address this issue and stand together against such destructive influence,” the 72-year-old Dutch sculptor added.
On the website, the artist has written that the statue is a “satirical outcry against Trump and the US’ assault on the green transition and the rule-based world order.”
The artist highlighted a global fear, amid concerns about how to deal with Trump. Galschiøt emphasised the freedom that comes with having an independent workshop.
“This sculpture has been made to address ‘the elephant in the room’ and start a necessary debate of how the US is destroying the world’s only chance to counter the climate catastrophe and a debate on how to stand up against him,” Galschiøt said.
The Orange Plague has been on display at the COP30 UN Climate Summit in 2025, the National Security Conference in Germany in 2026, and in November will be at the COP31 UN Climate conference in Turkey.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
The EU is a joke and it’s Parliament is a circus.
No wonder they are so anti-Trump. After having gotten accustomed to an easy life – a life of plenty – being dependent on the USA and looting/profiteering off of the US economy now they are being made to pay their own bills. President Trump has been absolutely clear about one thing – there are no free lunches.
Of course, the Europeans hate him.