Controversial Trump Statue Erected Near Las Vegas Highway

(Sky News) – A 43 foot tall statue depicting a naked Donald Trump has sparked outrage from Republicans after being erected near Las Vegas. The statue, which stands on a plot of land off a Nevada highway, has been branded “deplorable” by local Republicans who have condemned its shock value and criticized it for being inappropriate for public display.

The Nevada Republican Party issued a statement expressing strong disapproval of the statue, calling it an “offensive marionette” that lacks meaningful dialogue. They argued that families driving through Las Vegas were forced to witness the statue, which they claim was designed to shock rather than promote thoughtful conversation.

In their statement, the Nevada Republicans emphasized their focus on real issues such as reducing inflation, securing the nation’s borders, and creating jobs, while accusing Democrats, particularly Vice President Kamala Harris, of prioritizing shock tactics over substantive policies.

The anonymous artist behind the statue, titled Crooked and Obscene, revealed through a spokesperson that the statue stands 43 feet tall, is 10 feet wide, weighs 6,000 pounds, and is made of foam over rebar. According to the artist’s representative, the statue is intended to “ignite conversations” and will be moved to “key swing states” after its removal from the current site by Monday night.

Nevada has been a key battleground in recent U.S. presidential elections, narrowly voting Democratic in the last four contests. In the 2020 election, President Joe Biden secured 50.1% of the vote in the state, with Trump following closely at 47.7%.

This is not the first time an exaggerated or satirical depiction of Trump has made headlines. In 2019, a giant blimp portraying Trump as a baby flew above London’s Parliament Square during protests against his state visit to the United Kingdom. The controversial imagery surrounding Trump has often been used to highlight political divisions both in the U.S. and abroad.

Recently, political tensions have escalated following an apparent attempt on Trump’s life in Florida. A poll conducted by NBC News showed that many voters blame extreme political rhetoric from both politicians and media figures for contributing to the heightened atmosphere of violence. Ryan Routh, who pleaded not guilty to attempting to assassinate Trump in the Florida incident, is also implicated in a separate assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.