Surprise Trump Sculpture Sparks Debate on NYC Streets

Recently, a striking red sculpture of former U.S. President Donald Trump mysteriously emerged in the heart of Manhattan. Positioned right in front of The News Building, at the crossroads of East 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue, the artwork depicts Trump from the waist up, appearing to rise from a manhole. Dressed in a suit and tie, with a solemn expression, abundant hair, and pursed lips, the sculpture is accompanied by a small red rat peeking out from the drain, amplifying its symbolism.

French artist James Colomina clandestinely installed this provocative piece, aptly named "Donald." Crafted from life-sized resin, the sculpture was meticulously created, carved, and painted over three weeks in Colomina's studio in France before being shipped to New York for assembly. Through his Instagram account, Colomina shared the installation with the caption “Make America Grime Again,” aligning it with a series of public space interventions aimed at critiquing the excesses of power.

The Symbolism Behind the Art

Colomina explained his intention: “I wanted this image—a red figure emerging from the sewers—to disturb that landscape.” The artist is renowned for placing politically charged artworks in public arenas without prior notice. By choosing New York City as the backdrop, Colomina targets the very city that epitomizes Trump's constructed mythos. "Here, he built his image, his empire, his legend—a city he sought to conquer with golden towers and ruthless slogans,” Colomina stated.

Positioning Trump at ground level, seemingly arising from the depths, adds a potent layer of meaning. The artist aimed to juxtapose the grandeur of New York's skyscrapers with the “grotesque” figure of his sculpture. “These skyscrapers symbolize power, elevation, and architectural pride. I liked the idea of creating a stark contrast between this grand verticality and the emergence of a grotesque body from the sewers,” he remarked to the American press.

Reactions to Colomina's Unconventional Approach

Colomina's work is not merely about depicting a controversial figure but about capturing what Trump represents. “Trump doesn't appear on top; he's at ground level, where the city suppresses what it doesn't wish to see. It's a form of anti-monument,” he expressed. The artist believes the former president embodies more than a political phase: “He has fueled fear, deepened division, and injected a certain vulgarity into the political sphere.”

The installation sparked immediate reactions, as is typical of Colomina’s interventions. Social media buzzed with both criticism and praise, with comments ranging from “I love this,” “genius,” to “super evocative.” The White House's spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, responded mockingly, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

Authorities swiftly removed the sculpture shortly after its appearance. “They took it away, I don't know what they'll do with it,” Colomina told Actu Toulouse.

Colomina's Legacy of Red Provocations

The Trump sculpture joins a repertoire of critical pieces by Colomina scattered across the globe. In 2022, he installed a figure of Russian President Vladimir Putin on a tank in Central Park, depicted as a child playing. In Paris, 2020, he unveiled a sculpture of Emmanuel Macron to criticize the trivialization of poverty. More recently, in 2024, he surprised Toulouse with an erect figure of Abbé Pierre in a deconsecrated church.

All his works share a common element: intense red, symbolizing urgency, anger, and confrontation. According to Galeries Bartoux, “Colomina’s Red embodies the anger, passion, and urgency of the themes he tackles.” The artist’s methodology is straightforward: he installs his pieces in everyday settings without prior notification to transform them into spaces for contemplation. “This work continues my approach: diverting symbols of power to reveal what disturbs, divides, and degrades,” Colomina asserts.