A giant golden bust of former U.S. President Donald Trump has been installed inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on 7 October 2026. The 8.5‑ft sculpture, painted in 23‑carat gold leaf, sits at the intersection that connects the two parliamentary buildings, drawing a crowd of journalists, politicians and curious citizens.
The statue is naked, holding a pair of justice scales and a long golf club that hints at the world with a golf ball. It sits atop a smaller, clothed man who appears to be bearing the weight of the larger figure. Galschiot described the piece as a warning that the former president is a "threat to the rules‑based world order, democratic values and climate action".
Inspired by the fable "The Emperor’s New Clothes," the artist said the statue exposes a leader who believes he is dressed in grandeur while in fact he is naked. He added on X that the golden coating merely makes his nakedness shine brighter, turning the work into a protest symbol.
Visitors to the installation were handed miniature replicas in shades of grey, pink, blue and green. Galschiot plans to distribute 10,000 copies, which people can 3‑D print at home. The small statues are meant to be carried as a call to action against what the artist calls Trump’s dominance.
The artwork has previously appeared at COP30 in Brazil and at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. It follows a 15‑ft golden statue called "Don Colossus" that was unveiled at a Miami golf course earlier this year.
The bust will remain on display until Thursday. EU officials have not yet issued a formal response, but the piece has already sparked debate among parliamentarians and the public.