Overview

• Slovenian police launched an investigation on May 13 into the theft of a bronze statue of Melania Trump near Sevnica, her hometown.
• The statue, created by American conceptual artist Brad Downey, was chopped off at the ankles and removed from its concrete and metal base.
• The bronze piece was installed in 2020 as an 'anti-monument' after the original wooden statue, carved by local artist Ales Zupevc, was destroyed by arson.
• Downey expressed sadness over the theft and speculated it could be linked to political developments in the U.S., though this remains unconfirmed.
• The statue, a critique of political imagery, had become a symbol of local identity and inspired tourism-related products in Sevnica, including cakes and chocolates.