Golden Naked Trump Statue Sparks Political Debate at European Parliament
A large golden statue of US President Donald Trump has been displayed inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Read below to find out more about this interesting story.
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🚀 Find your level and then practice the exercises below!
Beginner Level (A1/A2)
A large golden statue of US President Donald Trump has been displayed inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. The statue was created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt and is called “The Orange Plague.”
The statue is about 8.5 feet tall. It shows Trump naked and covered in gold leaf. He is sitting on the shoulders of a smaller, weaker man. The statue also shows Trump holding a golf club.
The artist said the artwork represents his concerns about Trump’s influence on the world, the environment, and international rules. The statue was approved for display by European Parliament officials.
- Statue – a model of a person or object, usually made from stone, metal, or another material
- Parliament – A group of people who make laws for a country.
- Created – Made something new.
- Artist – A person who makes art.
- Plague – A very serious disease that spreads to many people.
- Naked – Not wearing any clothes.
- Gold leaf – Very thin pieces of gold used to cover things.
- Weaker man – A man who has less strength than another man.
- Golf club – A tool used to hit a golf ball.
- Represents – Shows or stands for something.
- Concerns – Worries or things that people think are important.
- Influence – The power to change how someone thinks or acts.
- Approved – Said that something is good or acceptable.
Intermediate Level (B1/B2)
A controversial golden statue of US President Donald Trump has been installed inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, the 8.5-foot sculpture is titled “The Orange Plague” and presents a satirical image of the American president.
The artwork depicts Trump naked and covered in 23-karat gold leaf, sitting on the shoulders of a smaller looking man.
Galschiøt explained that the sculpture shows his concerns about Trump’s policies and their potential effects on the environment and the international community. The artist had previously exhibited the sculpture at other international events and planned to show it again at the COP31 climate conference in Turkey.
- controversial – causing disagreement or strong public opinions
- sculpture – a work of art made by shaping or combining materials
- satirical – using humour, irony, or exaggeration to criticize someone or something
- depicts – shows or represents something in an image or artwork
- consequences – results or effects of an action
Native Level (C1)
A striking political sculpture depicting a naked, gold-covered Donald Trump has been unveiled inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Titled “The Orange Plague,” the 8.5-foot artwork was created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt as a provocative commentary on political authority, global power dynamics, and the consequences of leadership.
The sculpture portrays Trump covered in 23-karat gold leaf and perched on the shoulders of a visibly frail man. He holds a golf club and the scales of justice. Through this imagery, Galschiøt seeks to highlight what he considers the damaging influence of powerful leaders on ordinary people, democratic values, and the environment.
The artwork also draws on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes, in which a vain emperor is deceived into believing he is wearing magnificent clothing. By presenting a prominent political figure in an exaggerated and vulnerable form, the artist uses satire to challenge perceptions of authority and question whether those in power are held sufficiently accountable.
The exhibition was sponsored by Danish politician Per Clausen, who argued that Europe needs a broader discussion about how political power is exercised and how countries can protect their independence. Although the European Parliament authorized the display, the decision should not be mistaken for institutional endorsement of the artist’s political views.
The temporary exhibition was expected to conclude on Thursday. Galschiøt had previously presented the sculpture at international events, including the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, and planned to exhibit it again at COP31 in Turkey.
- provocative – intended to cause strong reactions, discussion, or disagreement
- political authority – the recognized power to make political decisions
- global power dynamics – the ways power and influence are distributed among countries and leaders
- perched – sitting or resting in a position, often high or unusual
- democratic values – principles such as freedom, equality, participation, and accountability
- vain – excessively proud of one’s appearance, abilities, or achievements
- perceptions – the ways people understand or interpret something
- accountable – responsible for one’s actions and expected to explain them
- exercised – used or put into practice, especially when referring to power or authority
- institutional endorsement – official support expressed by an organization
Sources for this story:
True or False Exercises
Can you get these 5 questions right?
1 . The golden Trump statue was created by Danish artist Jens Galschiøt.
true / false
2. The statue is called “The Orange Plague.”
true / false
true
3. The sculpture depicts Trump wearing a traditional royal outfit.
true / false
false
4. The statue is covered in 23-karat gold leaf.
true / false
True
5. The sculpture shows Trump sitting on the shoulders of a smaller man
true / false
True
Vocabulary Quiz
Which answer matches the meaning?
1 . Controversial
1. Something that causes disagreement or strong differences of opinion.
2. Something that is accepted and supported by everyone.
3. Something that is difficult to find or understand.
1
Something controversial causes people to disagree or debate.
2. Satirical
1. Designed to explain something in a serious and formal way.
2. Using humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people or society.
3. Created to show support for a person or idea.
2
Satirical describes something that uses humor to criticize people, behavior, or society.
3. Accountable
1. Able to avoid responsibility for mistakes.
2. Allowed to make decisions without any rules.
3. Responsible for your actions and expected to explain them.
3
Being accountable means accepting responsibility for what you do.
4. Endorsement
1. A public statement showing support or approval for someone or something.
2. A formal complaint about a person’s behavior.
3. A warning about a possible problem or danger.
1
An endorsement is a statement or action that shows support for a person, product, or idea.
5. Perched
1. Moving quickly from one place to another.
2. Sitting or resting on something, often in a high or narrow place.
3. Falling suddenly from a great height.
2
Perched means sitting or resting on a raised or narrow spot.
