Full Breakdown
The Orange Plague: Gold-Leaf Nude Trump Statue Unveiled in the European Parliament
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On Tuesday, October 6 2026, the European Parliament in Strasbourg opened a three-day exhibition featuring a 2.6-metre (?8 ft) gold-leaf sculpture titled The Orange Plague. Danish artist Jens Galschiøt depicts U.S. President Donald Trump naked, clutching a golf club and a small set of scales, perched on the shoulders of a frail, bronze-clad man. The work will remain on display until Thursday, October 8, before traveling to the COP31 climate conference in Turkey.
Background & Context
Galschiøt, known for politically charged installations, created the piece as a “satirical out-cry” against what he describes as the United States’ assault on the green transition and the rule-based world order. He cites Hans Christian Andersen’s *The Emperor’s New Clothes* as an inspiration, arguing that Trump’s “golden” self-image masks a naked vulnerability. The sculpture debuted at the COP30 summit in Brazil (Nov 2025), appeared at the Munich Security Conference (Feb 2026), and toured several European cities before arriving in Strasbourg.
The exhibition was sponsored by Per Clausen, a Danish MEP from the Left group, who invited Galschiøt to display the work inside the Parliament’s Winston Churchill building.
Data & Statistics
- Height: 2.6 m (?8 ft).
- Surface: 23-karat gold leaf.
- Core: copper with a bronze figure beneath the larger figure.
- Miniatures: roughly 20,000 3D-printed replicas handed out to visitors; design files are publicly available.
Official Statements & Responses
Galschiøt said the work is intended to spark debate where “political language cannot.” A European Parliament spokesperson confirmed the display was approved by the quaestors, the cross-party group that authorises MEP-sponsored cultural events, and clarified that approval does not constitute endorsement of the artwork’s message.
Criticism & Opposition
Right-wing and centrist MEPs objected. Belgian Barbara Bonte (Patriots for Europe) called the display a “disgrace” and said it showed a lack of respect for a friendly nation’s president. Hungarian Erno Schaller-Baross (Fidesz) warned that a comparable depiction of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would be “dehumanising,” labeling the exhibit “hypocrisy.” Irish Barry Cowen (Renew Europe) described the piece as “silly and objectionable,” noting that opposition does not require agreement with Trump’s policies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nations as well as NGOs are afraid to openly raise the subject [of] how to deal with Trump and his policies, fearing tariffs, fund-cuts, deportations or the like,” — Jens Galschiøt
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ slightly on the statue’s exact height, citing both 2.5 m and 2.6 m. Coverage also varies on the end date of the Strasbourg exhibition—some reports say it will stay “through Thursday” (Oct 8), others note removal on Oct 8. No comment has been received from President Trump or the White House.
What’s Next
After October 8, The Orange Plague is slated to appear at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, in November 2026. Galschiøt will continue distributing 3D-print files so activists can produce their own miniature “protest tokens.” The exhibition’s trajectory suggests the artwork will remain a focal point for debates on climate policy, geopolitical influence, and the role of satire in public discourse.