Latest news with #DictatorApproved
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Anti-Trump "Dictator Approved" sculpture erected on National Mall, White House responds
An anti-Trump sculpture titled 'Dictator Approved' has been installed on the National Mall, igniting backlash from both political observers and the White House. The gold-painted, 8-foot artwork features a thumbs-up hand crushing the Statue of Liberty's crown, with plaques quoting authoritarian leaders who have publicly praised Donald Trump. The installation, permitted by the National Park Service, coincided with Trump's June 14 military parade marking the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary and his 79th birthday. Organisers of the artwork say it was intended to criticise what they described as 'imagery similar to autocratic, oppressive regimes.' Each side of the sculpture's base features direct quotes, including Vladimir Putin calling Trump 'a very bright and talented man,' Viktor Orbán describing him as 'the most respected,' Jair Bolsonaro admiring their 'shared values,' and Kim Jong Un citing 'extraordinary courage.' In response, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated: 'If these Democrat activists were living in a dictatorship, their eye-sore of a sculpture wouldn't be sitting on the National Mall right now.' She added, 'In the United States of America you have the freedom to display your so-called 'art,' no matter how ugly it is.' The statue is authorised to remain in place through Sunday.
Mint
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Dictator approved' sculpture smashing Statue of Liberty in DC baffles internet: ‘Trump should take a selfie with it'
In another turn of events, the artists behind last year's controversial 'poop statue" are back with another masterpiece. This time, it is called 'Dictator Approved', a mocking nod to US President Donald Trump. The statue stands tall in the same spot on the National Mall near Third Street NW. The 8-foot-tall sculpture of a gold-painted hand gives a thumbs-up while crushing the seafoam green crown of the Statue of Liberty. According to a permit from the National Park Service, the artists created Dictator Approved as a response to the military parade held on June 14. 'Will feature imagery similar to autocratic, oppressive regime, i.e. N. Korea, Russia, and China, marching through DC, " the application penned by the sculpture's architects states. According to the parade, the purpose of this artistic masterpiece is to bring to notice the 'the praising these types of oppressive leaders have given Donald Trump.' An all four sides of the artwork's base, quotes from world leaders are inscribed. One is from Russian President Vladimir Putin that states, 'President Trump is a very bright and talented man.' Another from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban which states, 'The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump.' The third side features a quote from former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, 'We do have a great deal of shared values. I admire President Trump.' The fourth quote is from no other than North Korea's Kim Jong Un, ''Your Excellency.' A 'special' relationship. 'The extraordinary courage of President Trump.'' The permit lists Mary Harris as the applicant which allows the artwork to be in place until 5:00 PM of June 22, The Washington Post reported citing permit documents. Its placement was authorised from 7:00 AM of June 16. Social media users were in a frenzy on seeing the 'Dictator Approved' artwork and flooded the internet with hilarious reactions. A user stated, 'This is more beautiful than the statue of liberty itself.' Another user remarked, 'Trump is dictator-approved.' A third user stated, 'This is hilarious!' A fourth user quipped, 'Trump needs to do a selfie next to it.' A fifth user remarked, 'Art as protest—love it. A bold statement against authoritarianism right on the Mall.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House Fumes at ‘Ugly' Sculpture Mocking ‘Dictator' Trump's Birthday Parade
The White House has issued a scathing response to a statue erected on the National Mall to protest President Donald Trump's military birthday parade. Titled 'Dictator Approved,' the 8-foot-tall sculpture features a gold-painted hand giving a thumbs up while crushing the Statue of Liberty's verdigris crown. Its base is decorated with four plaques highlighting quotes from authoritarian leaders praising Trump. According to a permit for the installation issued by the National Park Service, the piece was meant as a rebuke to Trump's June 14 parade celebrating the Army's 250th anniversary—which coincided with Trump's 79th birthday, The Washington Post reported. The parade 'feature[ed] imagery similar to autocratic, oppressive regimes' like North Korea, Russia, and China, the statue's creators—who so far haven't been identified—wrote in the application. 'If these Democrat activists were living in a dictatorship, their eye-sore of a sculpture wouldn't be sitting on the National Mall right now,' Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, wrote to the Post an emailed statement. 'In the United States of America you have the freedom to display your so-called 'art,' no matter how ugly it is,' she added. The plaques on the base quote Russian President Vladimir Putin saying, 'President Trump is a very bright and talented man,' and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban saying, 'The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump.' A glowing quote from former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro says, 'We do have a great deal of shared values. I admire President Trump.' And North Korea's Kim Jong Un is quoted as saying the phrases, 'Your excellency,' 'A 'special relationship' and, 'The extraordinary courage of President Trump.' The statue can stay up through Sunday, according to the National Parks Service permit. The style and materials used are similar to protest artworks put up around Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Oregon, and New York last fall. One of those pieces depicted a pile of poop left on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)'s desk in mock 'tribute' to the Jan. 6 rioters who stormed and defiled the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn Trump's 2020 election defeat. Trump's $45 million military parade drew thin crowds and was poorly attended even by Republicans, though the president declared it a 'tremendous success.' Critics accused the president—who insisted on having tanks rolling through the streets of D.C.—of staging a Soviet-style event and using the troops as political pawns. The event coincided with millions of Americans protesting his administration at 'No Kings' rallies nationwide.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Eight-foot-tall ‘Dictator Approved' sculpture appears on National Mall
Remember the poop statue? The curly-swirly pile of doo that sat atop a replica of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-California) desk? The work of protest art placed on the National Mall last October in mock tribute to the Jan. 6 rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election? Well, the artists responsible for the political poo plop appear to have struck again. This time with a work called 'Dictator Approved,' an 8-foot-tall sculpture showing a gold-painted hand with a distinctive thumbs-up quashing the seafoam green crown of the Statute of Liberty. It sits at the same location on the Mall near Third Street NW as the poop statue did last fall. The artwork's creators intended 'Dictator Approved' as a rejoinder to the June 14 military parade and authoritarianism, according to a permit issued by the National Park Service. The parade, the creators wrote in the application, 'Will feature imagery similar to autocratic, oppressive regime, i.e. N. Korea, Russia, and China, marching through DC.' The purpose of the statue, they continued, is to call attention to 'the praising these types of oppressive leaders have given Donald Trump.' Plaques on the four sides of the artwork's base include quotes from world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin ('President Trump is a very bright and talented man.'), Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ('The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump.'), former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro ('We do have a great deal of shared values. I admire President Trump.') and North Korea's Kim Jong Un ('Your Excellency.' A 'special' relationship. 'The extraordinary courage of President Trump.'). 'If these Democrat activists were living in a dictatorship, their eye-sore of a sculpture wouldn't be sitting on the National Mall right now,' Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, wrote in an emailed statement. 'In the United States of America you have the freedom to display your so-called 'art,' no matter how ugly it is.' Mary Harris is listed as the applicant for the permit but no contact information for her was provided. The permit allows the statue to be in place from 7 a.m. June 16 until 5 p.m. June 22. The 'Dictator Approved' statue is very similar in style and materials to the poop statue and several protest artworks placed in the District, Philadelphia and Portland, Oregon, last fall. However, no individual or group has publicly claimed responsibility for those pieces. An unidentified caller and emailer told a Washington Post reporter last year that he was part of the group that worked on the sculptures and provided information about them that only someone who had installed the projects would know, such as when the statues would appear. His identity remains a mystery. On Wednesday he replied to a Washington Post email asking if he was involved with the new statue. 'I have heard about it but not me,' he wrote. He did not respond to additional questions or a request to meet in an Arlington parking garage. Some of the tourists and locals who stopped by the statue between downpours Wednesday afternoon expressed surprise that it was allowed to be placed where it was. And they expressed reservations about weighing in on it publicly. 'I'm amazed that whoever dreamt this up could put this here,' said Kuresa, an 80-year-old from Australia who declined to give his last name because he said as an international visitor he didn't feel comfortable expressing his views. 'It reminds me of 'Animal Farm.'' District resident and retired federal employee Yvette Hatfield stopped by with her dog Max, wearing an adorable raincoat and rain hat, to get a selfie of both of them in front of the statue. Asked why she wanted a photo, Hatfield laughed. 'Because of my political views and that's all I'm going to say.' 'I actually love it,' said another District resident. He declined to give his name because he said his parents and grandparents often told him 'Fools' names, like their faces, are always seen in public places.' He wished the reporter good luck with the story. Francesca Carlo, 20, and Abigail Martin, 21, visiting from Cleveland, happened on the statue just before it started to pour. 'At first I was confused,' Martin said, 'but then I figured it out. I think it's beautiful.' Carlo agreed. She thought the quotes on the plaques could send a message. 'If all these authoritarian politicians approve of our president then maybe people will see a pattern recognition and see where democracy is headed,' she said.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
New ‘dictator approved' sculpture of smashed Statue of Liberty arrives in DC - but nobody knows who is behind it
A new 'dictator approved' sculpture cropped up on the National Mall in front of the Capitol building days after President Donald Trump 's military parade — but the creator remains a mystery. The sculpture, titled 'Dictator Approved,' depicts a golden hand — giving a thumbs up — crushing the top of the Statute of Liberty. Her crown is cracked, and one of the seven spikes has fallen off, lying atop the pedestal. It appeared on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Tuesday. Trump, who first announced his presidential run in 2015 by descending a golden escalator, has transformed the Oval Office, covering much of it in gold. A pedestal is also adorned with gold plaques featuring quotes from several world leaders, often characterized as dictators, praising Trump. 'President Trump 'is a very bright and talented man,'' a quote attributed to Russian President Vladimir Putin reads. On another side bears a quote from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán: "The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump." The artwork appeared days after the president's military parade in the nation's capital, which coincided with this birthday celebration — and nationwide 'No Kings' protests. The artwork has a permit to be on the National Mall though June 22, WTOP reported. The Independent has reached out to the National Park Service for more information. The permit states: 'Military parade on 6/14 will feature imagery similar of autocratic, oppressive regimes, i.e. N. Korea, Russia, and China, marching through DC. This statue will call attention of that imagery by linking our American traditions of freedom of the actually praising these types of oppressive leaders have given Donald Trump.' 'It's just a sign of today's political climate,' Diane, a woman walking in the National Mall, told the outlet. 'It's crushing liberty, that's what it says to me.' The permit says a security guard is required to guard the statue 24/7. The security guard told the Washingtonian that reactions to the artwork have been 'pretty mixed.' The latest anti-Trump sculpture comes eight months after other political art pieces appeared on the National Mall. In October, a bronze sculpture resembling former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk, complete with an emoji-shaped poop, cropped up near the Capitol building. 'This memorial honors the brave men and women who broke into the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021 to loot, urinate and defecate throughout those hallowed halls in order to overturn an election,' the plaque beneath the artwork read. 'President Trump celebrates these heroes of January 6th as 'unbelievable patriots' and 'warriors.' This monument stands as a testament to their daring sacrifice and lasting legacy.'
