A bronze statue of first lady Melania Trump in her native Slovenia has vanished after being reportedly cut off at the ankles and removed from its pedestal.

The statue, which had replaced a similarly defaced wooden version, was located in Mrs. Trump’s hometown of Sevnica, and local authorities have launched an investigation into its disappearance, as Breitbart reports.

The bronze work was erected following the destruction of a wooden statue in July 2020. That original statue had been carved from the trunk of a linden tree and featured the first lady in a pale blue dress reminiscent of the one she wore during Donald Trump’s 2017 presidential inauguration.

The wooden statue was destroyed in an apparent act of arson. Video footage captured parts of the initial statue’s removal, while later recordings also showed the installation of the bronze replacement. After the wooden version was burned, creators and town organizers opted to establish a more durable substitute.

Statue replaced previously damaged artwork

The bronze statue that took the burned sculpture’s place has now disappeared as well. According to reports cited by the Associated Press (AP), the latest version was removed after being sawn cleanly at the ankles. Authorities believe it may have been taken by unknown individuals using tools to detach it from its base.

The removal has renewed discussions in Sevnica about both the public display of political figures and the method of honoring the town’s most globally recognized native. Melania Trump’s connection to Sevnica brought international attention to the small Slovenian town during her time in the White House.

The AP noted that the bronze statue did not closely resemble Melania Trump. While it mimicked the original wooden statue’s posture and dress, the specifics of the figure’s face and features lacked detailed likeness, leaving some residents and viewers underwhelmed.

Authorities launch criminal probe

Slovenian police have initiated a formal investigation to determine who is responsible for the statue’s removal. So far, officials have not identified any suspects or released information about possible motives behind the incident. No arrests have been reported.

The motive behind the destruction of the original wooden statue also remains unclear, though the act was widely interpreted as a form of protest or political statement. As with the first incident, authorities are treating the removal of the bronze version as a potential crime, given that it involved vandalism and theft of public art.

Additional security footage is reportedly being reviewed by investigators searching for leads. Sevnica’s officials have not issued public statements about whether a third statue will eventually be installed in the original statue’s place.

Trump-related statues spark past controversy

This is not the first time a figure associated with the Trump family has been targeted in Slovenia. In January 2020, several months before the attack on the wooden Melania statue, a larger-than-life wooden sculpture resembling President Donald Trump was also burned down by arsonists in another Slovenian town.

That effigy depicted Trump with raised arms and an exaggerated facial expression. According to local reports, it was meant partly as a satirical piece and drew mixed reactions from the public. That incident also led to a police investigation, although the person responsible for that fire was never publicly identified.

The repeated targeting of Trump-related imagery in Slovenia has provoked ongoing debate about how controversial political figures are represented in art, especially in public spaces. For some, the statues were a source of local pride; for others, they represented unwanted political symbolism.

Public reaction to tributes mixed

Melania Trump grew up in Sevnica before pursuing a career in modeling that eventually led her to the United States. Her tenure as U.S. First Lady brought global media coverage to the quiet Slovenian town, and related tourism increased during that time, with many visitors stopping to photograph the statues.

Some residents embraced the statues as tributes to Sevnica’s most famous daughter. Others criticized the artworks, particularly for their style or lack of realism. The original wooden version, in particular, sparked reactions due to its crude, folk-like construction.

Whether the latest disappearance was politically motivated or an act of vandalism remains uncertain. Due to the symbolic significance of the sculptures, authorities are considering various possibilities as they continue their investigation.

Long-term fate of site undetermined

With the site of the statue now empty, local officials will need to determine whether to restore or redesign the installation altogether. So far, no replacement plans have been announced, and it is unclear whether further funding or interest exists to commission a third statue.

The statue’s original designers and sponsors have not commented publicly on the bronze statue’s disappearance. It is also unknown whether they will cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or advocate for a new version of the sculpture to be built.

As the police inquiry continues, residents and visitors are left with unanswered questions about the motivation and implications of the repeated destruction and disappearance of artwork honoring Melania Trump in her hometown.