| The Orange Plague | |
|---|---|
| The King of Injustice | |
 Jens Galschiøt standing next to The Orange Plague sculpture in Strasbourg | |
| Artist | Jens Galschiøt |
| Year | 2026 |
| Medium | Copper, 23-carat gold leaf |
| Movement | Political art |
| Subject | Donald Trump seated on the shoulders of a smaller man |
| Dimensions | 260 cm (100 in)[1] |
| Location | European Parliament building (temporary exhibition), Strasbourg, France |
| Website | galschiot |
The Orange Plague (also known as The King of Injustice) is a 2026 sculpture by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt (born 1954). It depicts United States president Donald Trump naked and covered in 23-carat gold leaf, sitting on the shoulders of a smaller, frail man. The 2.6-metre-tall sculpture is a work of political satire that criticises Trump's policies on climate change and international relations. It attracted international media attention when it was exhibited inside the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France, in October 2026.[2][3]
The sculpture shows Trump holding a golf club and a set of scales, while a globe modelled as a golf ball lies near the feet of the smaller figure. A plaque beneath the sculpture contains a statement in which the dominant figure claims that he will do anything to help the man carrying him, except step down from his back. The work draws on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Emperor's New Clothes and uses the contrast between gold, nudity and physical dependence to comment on political power and responsibility.[4][5]
Design[edit | edit source]
The sculpture stands 2.6 metres tall and is made of copper covered with 23-carat gold leaf. It depicts Trump naked, seated on the shoulders of a smaller and visibly frail man, who is shown supporting his weight. The composition resembles Galschiøt's earlier sculpture Survival of the Fattest, which also uses an unequal physical relationship between two figures to address questions of power and inequality.[2][4]
Trump holds a golf club in one hand and a set of scales in the other. A small globe, shaped like a golf ball, is positioned near the feet of the man beneath him. The golf club refers to Trump's well-known association with the sport and his ownership of golf courses. The scales represent justice, while the globe connects the sculpture's imagery to international affairs. The contrast between the gold-covered president and the man carrying him forms the central visual feature of the work.[6][5]
A plaque beneath the sculpture reads:
I am sitting on the back of a man.
He is sinking under my burden.
I will do anything to help him.
Except stepping down from his back.
— The King of Injustice
The inscription presents a figure who claims to be willing to help another person while refusing to give up the position that places the other person under pressure. It reinforces the sculpture's criticism of power exercised at the expense of others.[4][3]
Inspiration and meaning[edit | edit source]
Galschiøt has said that the sculpture was inspired by Andersen's fairy tale The Emperor's New Clothes. In the story, an emperor is persuaded that he is wearing magnificent clothes, although he is actually naked. The deception continues because people are unwilling to challenge the pretence until a child points out the truth.[2][4]
The sculpture adapts this theme by presenting a powerful political figure whose display of grandeur is contradicted by his nudity. The gold leaf creates a visual contrast between wealth and vulnerability. According to the artist, the gilding also refers to the use of gold in Trump's surroundings, including the decoration of properties associated with him.[2][5]
Galschiøt has described the work as a satirical protest against what he regards as Trump's impact on climate action, democratic values and the rules-based international order. The artist's stated intention is to draw attention to the consequences of political decisions and to challenge the concentration of power and privilege.[4][3]
The title The Orange Plague is a political reference to Trump. The alternative title, The King of Injustice, is also used in connection with the sculpture and appears in its accompanying inscription. The work's message reflects the artist's own political criticism and should not be understood as an official position of the European Parliament or the United States government.[4][5]
Exhibitions[edit | edit source]
Brazil[edit | edit source]
The sculpture was displayed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. The presentation connected the work with Galschiøt's criticism of climate policy and the international response to climate change.[4][3]
Copenhagen[edit | edit source]
The sculpture was also presented in connection with demonstrations in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2026. These demonstrations included support for Greenland, an issue that had featured in political discussions involving Trump and the United States.[4][3]
European Parliament[edit | edit source]
On 7 October 2026, the sculpture was unveiled inside the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France. The presentation was hosted by Danish Member of the European Parliament Per Clausen. The exhibition formed part of a temporary three-day display and brought the work into a prominent political setting.[2][3]
The installation attracted international news coverage because of its depiction of the US president and its critical political message. The sculpture's presence in the Parliament building resulted from the temporary exhibition; it did not represent formal endorsement of the artwork's message by the institution.[5]
During the exhibition, visitors were given small, three-dimensional printed replicas of the sculpture. Galschiøt said that approximately 20,000 miniatures had been produced for distribution to visitors and staff members. The digital files were also made available so that others could print their own versions.[2][4]
Planned presentation at COP31[edit | edit source]
As of October 2026, Galschiøt's website listed a planned presentation of the sculpture at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey, in November 2026.[4]
Reception[edit | edit source]
The sculpture received international media coverage following its presentation in Strasbourg. Reports focused on its gold-covered depiction of Trump, the figure supporting his weight and the symbolism of the golf club, scales and globe. The work was discussed as an example of contemporary political satire using a recognisable public figure to address questions of authority and international responsibility.[2][3][5]
Its provocative depiction of a serving US president also drew attention to the role of political art in public institutions. The temporary exhibition provided a platform for Galschiøt's criticism, while the artist's statements made clear that the work was intended as a protest rather than a neutral portrait of Trump.[4][5]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "The Orange Plague". Jens Galschiøt Studio. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Cieslik, Emma (7 October 2026). "Artist unveils golden statue of a nude Donald Trump at European parliament building". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Mouriquand, David (8 October 2026). "'The Orange Plague': Naked Trump statue on display at European Parliament in Strasbourg". Euronews. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 "The Orange Plague". Jens Galschiøt Studio. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Aprosio, Giorgia (9 October 2026). "The strange story of the naked Trump statue at the European Parliament". Domus. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
- ↑ Snow, Alexandra (7 October 2026). "Golden naked Trump statue unveiled at European Parliament". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
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