Police in Slovenia are investigating the theft of a bronze statue of Melania Trump after it was sawed off at the ankles and removed from her hometown of Sevnica.
The life-size sculpture of the US First Lady had been placed in central Slovenia, where Melanija Knavs was born in 1970.
Local media reported that the bronze replica was cut off at its base and carried away.
The bronze statue was unveiled in 2020 during Donald Trump's first term in office.
The bronze statue has been removed from the ankles of the statue
Reuters
Trump's statue replaced an eight-metre-tall wooden one, which had been set on fire earlier that year.
The original wooden sculpture had faced criticism locally for its appearance, with some residents comparing it to a Smurf.
It was carved from a linden tree trunk by local artist Ales "Maxi" Zupevc in July 2019.
The wooden sculpture depicted Melania in the blue coat she wore for her husband's first inauguration in 2017. It was burned down on US Independence Day and replaced with the bronze replica.
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Franja Kranjc, who works at a local bakery selling Melania-themed cakes, said the stolen statue would not be missed.
"I think no one was really proud of this statue, not even the first lady of the USA. So I think it's okay that it's removed," Kranjc said.
Police spokeswoman Alenka Drenik Rangus confirmed on Friday that authorities were informed about the theft on Tuesday.
She explained that the police were working to track down those responsible.
The police are working to track down who took the statue
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There are likely to be a number of local suspects given the statue's controversial reception in the community.
Despite the controversy surrounding the statue, Sevnica has become a tourist attraction for fans of Donald Trump and his wife.
Local shops have capitalised on the connection by selling themed products, including honey and chocolates.
The small Slovenian town has embraced its link to the former US first lady, though the stolen bronze statue appears to have been less popular than the merchandise bearing her name.
