Vanished: The Melania Trump Statue in Slovenia Sparks Controversy and Investigation**

The statue, created by Brad Downey, left only its feet behind as police investigate its disappearance. Local reactions are mixed, reflecting varied sentiments about the former First Lady and her controversial image.**

The bronze statue of Melania Trump, crafted by American artist Brad Downey, has mysteriously vanished from its location in Sevnica, Slovenia. Initially unveiled in September 2020, this statue has faced a tumultuous history of destruction, which seems to be curiously repeating itself.

The sculpture first made its appearance alongside the River Sava in July of 2020, just months before Melania Trump departed from the White House. Now, following four months since her relocation to Washington, the larger-than-life statue has reportedly been unceremoniously removed, with only its feet and a two-meter tall tree stump remaining at the site.

Such incidents concerning Melania Trump’s likeness have a notable precedent. The inaugural statue, commissioned from local artisan Ales "Maxi" Zupevc, was carved from a single piece of wood and unveiled in July 2019. However, that version was set ablaze during a 4th of July celebration in a misguided act of protest. Fortunately, Downey had preserved a cast of this original wooden piece and created the bronze replacement, intended to endure. Yet, this durable form, too, has been compromised, now missing from its pedestal.

Local authorities in Sevnica have classified this disappearance as a theft and are actively investigating the incident. Downey himself has characterized his work as inherently political, asserting that Melania Trump attained her U.S. citizenship through expedited processes that many immigrants are denied, especially under her husband's stringent policies. He now speculates that her statue’s removal is linked to upcoming electoral tensions.

Community sentiments about the statue are divided. Some officials have denounced any interference with property while acknowledging that the image of the former First Lady fails to evoke pride among locals. This confluence of art and politics has produced a scenario that mirrors narratives often explored through satire in film, suggesting that the tale of this statue is far from over.