A massive 43-foot nude statue of Donald Trump that appeared this week in a Philadelphia park has ignited controversy, drawing strong condemnation from the city’s Republican Party and sparking an official obscenity complaint.
Philadelphia GOP Chair Vince Fenerty told Newsweek that the sculpture was “appalling,” especially since “there are two daycares and a school right nearby, and you can even see it from the El train.” Fenerty confirmed that he personally filed a complaint with the Philadelphia Police on behalf of the Trump Campaign, the Pennsylvania Republican Party, and the Philadelphia Republican City Committee.
The statue, which appeared in Maja Park on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, reportedly shows Trump leering at a nude statue while being suspended like a puppet. At its base, a plaque reads: “In Honor of a Lifetime of Sexual Assault” a reference to Trump’s infamous Access Hollywood tape from 2016, where he made lewd remarks about women.
Local reports indicate that police requested the statue’s removal due to its explicit nature, even though the artists had rented the space legally for 24 hours. Interestingly, Fenerty himself previously resigned in 2016 following multiple sexual harassment allegations during his time at the Philadelphia Parking Authority, before later returning as GOP chair.
Similar statues have surfaced in Detroit, Nevada, and Portland, Oregon, where one was even beheaded shortly after installation. The artist behind the project remains anonymous, but a spokesperson said the piece titled “Crooked and Obscene” is part of a nationwide art protest tour.
According to the unnamed organizers, the goal is to spark discussion about transparency, vulnerability, and the image of political figures, challenging viewers to reflect on how power and public perception intertwine.
The foam statue reportedly weighs over 6,000 pounds, and was last spotted in Detroit’s Lincoln Street Art Park and off Interstate 15 near Las Vegas.
Public reaction has been deeply divided. While some view it as bold political art, others see it as a distasteful stunt timed to provoke controversy ahead of the 2024 U.S. election.
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