'Red Trump' Statue Surprises Manhattan from a Manhole... Removed Within a Day

Removed in Less Than 24 Hours,
Draws Attention from Online Users

In the heart of Manhattan, New York, a striking red statue of President Donald Trump standing confidently atop a manhole cover shook the city. On July 27 (local time), international media outlets including USA Today reported that the sculpture, installed by French artist James Colomina at the corner of East 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, was removed in less than 24 hours, yet it drew worldwide attention online.

A statue installed in the middle of a bustling area in Manhattan, New York, USA, depicts President Trump emerging from a manhole with his upper body visible. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.

This sculpture by Colomina depicts President Trump emerging from a manhole, showing his upper body. The Trump statue, dressed in a suit and tie, is seen tightly pursing his lips and gazing up at the tall buildings above. Below the manhole cover, a small red rat peeks outside, drawing further attention. The statue was installed directly opposite Manhattan’s iconic skyscraper, the Chrysler Building, and is approximately 1.6 kilometers away from Trump Tower.

Colomina is a street artist known for installing life-sized, bright red sculptures in cities around the world, including Tokyo, Barcelona, and Paris. This piece was created over about three weeks in the artist’s studio in France. Colomina stated that he disassembled the statue, transported it to New York, and then reassembled it on site. The artist posted a photo of the statue on his Instagram, accompanied by the phrase “Make America Grime Again.” This is a satirical twist on President Trump’s famous slogan “Make America Great Again,” replacing the word “Great” with “Grime.”

A statue installed in the middle of a busy street in Manhattan, New York, USA, depicts President Trump emerging from a manhole with his upper body visible. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.

Colomina said, “The Chrysler Building is a symbol of power, ascension, and architectural pride,” and added, “I wanted to create a stark contrast between the vertical monument and the bizarre figure emerging from the sewer.” He further explained, “I installed the statue here because New York is the very place where Trump built his image, his empire, and his legend.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson criticized, “There are endless attempts to capture President Trump’s overwhelming presence through art, but it is rare to find a truly successful example,” adding, “They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but at this level, the artist should either start over from scratch or go back to learning the basics of art.”

AP Yonhap News

Previously, in mid-June, a satirical statue depicting President Donald Trump as “Dictator Approved” was also installed in the heart of Washington, DC, the capital of the United States. The approximately 2.4-meter-tall piece, placed on the National Mall in Washington, DC, depicted a golden hand with a raised thumb pressing down on the green crown of the Statue of Liberty. According to the permit issued by the National Park Service (NPS), the intent of the piece was clear. The creators explained that, regarding the military parade held on June 14 to mark President Trump’s birthday, “The image is meant to evoke the sight of dictatorial and oppressive regimes such as North Korea, Russia, and China marching through Washington, DC.”