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Gilded Satire: A Gold-Leaf Trump Statue Takes Center Stage in the European Parliament
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The Gilded Trump Statue Unveiled in the European Parliament
On October 6, 2026, Danish artist Jens Galschiøt installed an 8.5-foot (2.6 m) copper sculpture coated in 23-karat gold leaf inside the European Parliament’s Winston Churchill building in Strasbourg. Titled “The Orange Plague” (also called “King of Injustice”), it depicts a nude President Donald Trump perched on the shoulders of a frail, bronze-colored figure, clutching a golf club and a set of scales.
Background and Context
The work had previously appeared at the 2025 COP30 summit in Brazil and at the 2026 Munich Security Conference. Danish left-wing MEP Per Clausen (Red-Green Alliance, The Left group) sponsored the three-day exhibition, calling it a catalyst for debate about power dynamics in Europe.
Key Figures
- Jens Galschiøt – sculptor.
- Per Clausen – sponsoring MEP.
- Roberta Metsola – President of the European Parliament, who addressed the controversy.
- Barbara Bonte – Belgian MEP (Patriots for Europe), who called the display a “disgrace.”
- Erno Schaller-Baross – Hungarian MEP (Fidesz), who likened the work to a “hypocritical double standard.”
- Barry Cowen – Irish MEP (Renew Europe), who described the exhibit as “silly and objectionable.”
Timeline
- October 6, 2026 – Statue unveiled in the Parliament hallway.
- October 7, 2026 – Press service confirmed the work was removed later that day.
- October 8, 2026 (scheduled) – Planned final removal according to the exhibition schedule.
Data and Statistics
- Height: 2.6 m (8.5 ft).
- Material: copper, covered with 23-karat gold leaf.
- Miniature distribution: reports range from “over 1,000” to “around 20,000” 3D-printed tokens.
Official Statements & Responses
The Parliament’s press service reiterated that all exhibitions must be approved in advance by the College of Quaestors, the cross-party body overseeing administrative matters.
Criticism & Opposition
Belgian MEP Barbara Bonte called the display a “disgrace” and accused the Parliament of disrespecting a friendly nation’s leader. Hungarian MEP Erno Schaller-Baross argued that a comparable depiction of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would be deemed “hypocritical.” Irish MEP Barry Cowen labeled the exhibit “silly and objectionable,” noting that opposition does not require agreement with Trump’s policies.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Miniature count: Sources differ between “over 1,000,” “10,000,” and “around 20,000” copies.
- Removal date: Press service confirmed removal on October 7, while the exhibition schedule lists a final removal on October 8.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The way Trump acts is a very, very big problem for people in Europe,” — Per Clausen.
- “Normally I attack systems, but in this case, I will attack Trump personally,” — Jens Galschiøt.