First Lady Melania Trump’s statue in Slovenia torched on July 4th [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• United States First Lady Melania Trump’s statue was torched near her hometown in Sevnica, Slovenia on July 4, according to the artist who commissioned the sculpture.
• Downey wanted to find out the culprits and know why they did it as he plans to interview them for a film he was shoo
• ting for his upcoming exhibit.
• Last month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to prosecute anybody who will be found guilty of damaging federal monuments and statues.

According to Berlin-based American artist Brad Downey, a wooden statue of US first lady Melania Trump was set on fire near her hometown in Sevnica, Slovenia on July 4. Downey was the one who commissioned the sculpture.

Upon being informed of the incident by the police the following day, the artist told Reuters that he removed the statue which had been disfigured and blackened.

Hoping to spark a dialogue on the US’ political condition and promote the first lady’s immigrant status for being married to a president who vouched to slash immigration, Downey wanted to know why the statue got burned. “I want to know why they did it,” he said. 

Downey said that he already filed a police report and would want to converse with the offenders if found and incorporate it for a film he is currently shooting. 

The 39-year-old artist is preparing for his exhibit which would open in Slovenia in September.

Police spokesperson Alenka Drenik told Reuters that the case’ investigation “has not been completed yet,” explaining that they cannot disclose details “due to the interest of further procedures.”

Reuters has requested for comment from the first lady’s office and had not gotten a response yet.

Last month, President Donald Trump released an executive order that mandates to protect federal monuments and statues amid the nationwide protests and violence against police brutality and social injustice.

He has threatened that anyone who shall be found guilty of destroying or vandalizing monuments or statues will render up to 10 years in jail.

Prior to the burning, the statue was painted with a pale blue coating that resembles the clothing Melania wore during Trump’s inauguration in 2017.

The figure was carved by a local folk artist named Ales Zupevc, using a chainsaw and trunk from a linden tree.

In a similar incident, a large wooden figure, that resembles Trump and was made by a local artist in 2019, was torched in Morayce City in Slovenia.

Source: New York Post