Overview

• A bronze statue of Melania Trump, located near her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, was stolen on May 13, 2025.
• The statue, designed by artist Brad Downey as a caricature, was intended to highlight Melania Trump's immigrant background in contrast to restrictive US immigration policies.
• This theft follows the 2019 burning of an earlier wooden version of the statue, reflecting repeated acts of vandalism against the artwork.
• Slovenian police have confirmed the theft and launched an investigation, but no suspects or leads have been identified so far.
• The statue had become a local tourist attraction and symbol of cultural heritage, drawing international attention to its politically charged message.