Melania Trump statue sawed off at the ankles and stolen in Slovenia

Published: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 9:51 pm

Melania Trump Statue Stolen in Slovenia, Sparking Investigation

A bronze statue of former First Lady Melania Trump has been stolen in her native Slovenia, prompting a police investigation. The statue, located near her hometown of Sevnica, was sawed off at the ankles and removed this week. This marks the second instance of vandalism targeting a statue of Melania in the same location.

The stolen bronze figure replaced an earlier wooden statue, which was erected in 2020 at the end of Donald Trump's first term. The original wooden statue was subsequently destroyed in an arson attack. Both statues were a collaborative effort between American artist Brad Downey and local Slovenian craftsman Ales "Maxi" Zupevc. The bronze statue was designed to resemble the original wooden figure, which depicted Melania Trump in a pale blue dress, similar to the one she wore at her husband's 2016 inauguration.

The theft was reported on Tuesday, with Slovenian police spokesperson Alenka Drenik Rangus confirming the ongoing investigation. Reactions to the statue's removal have been mixed. Franja Kranjc, a worker at a local bakery that sells Melania-themed cakes, stated that the statue wasn't well-received by the community. Zupevc, who shares a birthplace with Melania Trump, was inspired to create the statue. A plaque at the site now commemorates the monument, which is now gone.

Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs in 1970, grew up in Slovenia when it was part of Yugoslavia. Slovenia is now a member of the European Union and NATO.

Keywords: Melania Trump, Slovenia, statue, stolen, Sevnica, vandalism, bronze statue, Ales "Maxi" Zupevc, Brad Downey, Donald Trump, first lady, theft, investigation, former first lady, Melania Knavs

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