Melania Trump’s Bronze Statue Stolen in Slovenia After Vandalism

A bronze statue of Melania Trump in her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, was brazenly sawed off at the ankles and stolen this week, leaving locals and police baffled. The statue, a tribute to the former first lady, replaced a wooden version that fell victim to an arson attack in 2020, just after Donald Trump’s first term ended.

Crafted by American artist Brad Downey and local craftsman Ales 'Maxi' Zupevc, the bronze figure mirrored its predecessor, depicting Melania in a pale blue dress reminiscent of her 2016 inauguration look. The original wooden statue, carved from a linden tree trunk, was a rustic nod to her roots, but it wasn’t exactly a crowd-pleaser. Franja Kranjc, a bakery worker in Sevnica who sells Melania-themed cakes, remarked that the statue didn’t spark much pride, even suggesting its removal might not be mourned.

Slovenian police are investigating the theft, reported Tuesday, with spokesperson Alenka Drenik Rangus confirming the probe is underway. The statue stood on the same stump as the original, designed to be durable after the arson incident. Yet, it seems even bronze wasn’t enough to deter vandals. A plaque beside it reads, 'dedicated to the eternal memory of a monument to Melania,' now an ironic epitaph.

Zupevc, who shares a hospital birthplace with Melania, poured personal passion into the project, using a chainsaw and grinder to shape the original. He once quipped in a documentary that the statue resembled a local waitress more than the first lady—a lighthearted jab at his own handiwork.

Born Melanija Knavs in 1970, Melania grew up in Sevnica under Communist Yugoslavia. Today, Slovenia, a small Alpine nation, is a proud EU and NATO member, but this latest act of vandalism shows not everyone’s keen on celebrating their native daughter’s legacy.