Gilded Trump Statue Appears on National Mall Ahead of Veterans Day

A new gilded Trump statue has appeared on Washington’s National Mall, drawing attention just days before Veterans Day. The installation, titled The Foot Soldier, depicts the former president seated while rubbing his bare foot, a satirical reference to the medical diagnosis of bone spurs that allowed him to defer the Vietnam War draft in 1968. This latest installation by the anonymous artist collective known as the Secret Handshake was placed near the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden on Monday.

Mocking the Gilded Trump Statue

The artwork features a plaque that sarcastically honors the former president's service. The inscription claims he is a soldier in spirit who successfully navigated the front lines of draft avoidance through a perfect medical diagnosis. The plaque further mocks the situation by stating that when called to stand, it is sometimes better to rest one's feet. Accompanying the statue is an interactive mascot named Toey, a six-foot-tall representation of a toe suffering from the condition, which engaged with onlookers at the site.

A new gilded Trump statue on the National Mall mocks the former president for his Vietnam draft deferment.

Allegations regarding the former president’s draft status have persisted for years. In 2018, the New York Times reported on claims that a foot doctor in Queens provided the diagnosis as a favor to the president’s father. Furthermore, in 2019, his former attorney Michael Cohen testified to Congress that the president had intentionally avoided military service.

In response to the installation, White House spokesperson David Ingle dismissed the act as a manifestation of what he termed Trump Derangement Syndrome. He characterized the activists behind the project as individuals whose judgment has been clouded by political bias, asserting that the former president remains committed to protecting the American people.

The Secret Handshake group has previously used public art to criticize the former president, including statues referencing his association with Jeffrey Epstein and his controversial remodeling of the Lincoln bathroom. The group confirmed that The Foot Soldier and its accompanying mascot will remain on display through Veterans Day.

Why it matters

The installation highlights the ongoing cultural and political polarization surrounding the former president's past, particularly his military record. By placing the statue on the National Mall shortly before a major national holiday, the artists aimed to provoke public discourse on the nature of service and sacrifice. This event serves as a reminder of how public art is increasingly utilized as a tool for political commentary in the United States.