• A life-size bronze statue of Melania Trump was stolen in Slovenia.
• The statue was installed in 2020, replacing a wooden version that was set on fire.
• Local police are investigating the theft, which has ignited mixed reactions from residents.

A bronze statue of First Lady Melania Trump has been stolen from her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia. Local police reported that the statue, unveiled in September 2020, was cut off at the ankles and taken from its location near the River Sava. This statue was meant to replace an earlier wooden version that was burned in July 2020, raising concerns about the recurring misfortunes of Melania's tributes in Slovenia, according to Newsweek and IndiaTimes.

The investigation into the statue's disappearance began after police were alerted about the theft on May 13. Alenka Drenik Rangus, a police spokesperson, stated that they are working to locate those responsible. Residents of Sevnica have expressed mixed feelings regarding the statue, with some suggesting that the act might have been motivated by the political climate surrounding the upcoming elections, as many have noted in conversations with reporters, as detailed by CBS News and IndiaTimes.

The original wooden statue was crafted by local artist Aleš Župevc and intended to represent Melania in the dress she wore during her husband’s inauguration in 2017. It was poorly received by locals, some of whom described it as unflattering. The bronze replacement, made by artist Brad Downey, aimed to be more durable but faced its own tragic outcome, BBC reported. This latest incident has reignited discussions about local pride in the First Lady and the artistic tributes dedicated to her.

Downey, who expressed sadness about the statue's theft, noted that there may be deeper implications tied to the political circumstances related to Trump’s potential reelection. Franja Kranjc, a local bakery worker, shared sentiments reflecting a common apathy toward the statues, stating, “I think no one was really proud of this statue, not even the first lady of the USA,” as mentioned by South China Morning Post and HuffPost.