‘Dictator Approved': a golden thumbs-up crushing Statue of Liberty sculpture appears on National Mall

Indian Express

20-06-2025

A new 'art' sculpture has appeared in the heart of Washington appearing to mock US President Donald Trump.
Atop the replica of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-California) desk on the National Mall, stands a work of art called 'Dictator Approved,' an 8-foot-tall sculpture showing a gold-painted hand with a distinctive thumbs-up squashing the sea-foam green crown of the Statue of Liberty.
The artwork's creator intended Dictator Approved as a response to the June 14 military parade and authoritarianism, according to a permit issued by the National Park Service, as reported by The Washington Post.
The parade, the creators wrote in the application, 'will feature imagery similar to autocratic, oppressive regimes, i.e. North Korea, Russia, and China, marching through DC.' The purpose of the statue, they said, 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.').
No individual or group has taken responsibility for the statue; however, 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 am, June 16, until 5 pm, June 22.
This isn't the first time a sculpture has appeared at the same location. In October last year, a 'brass-coloured 'poop statue' was placed on the National Mall in mock tribute to the January 6 rioters who stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
A sign below the desk read: 'This memorial honours 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.'
There is no confirmation if the artist group involved in the poop statue is the same involved here, given that 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.
A White House spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson, lashed out at the claims of Trump leading an 'authoritative' regime, saying, '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.'
'In the United States of America, you have the freedom to display your so-called 'art,' no matter how ugly it is,' she said in an email statement to The Washington Post.
Social media users were in a frenzy on seeing the 'Dictator Approved' statue. On Instagram, many users shared their views, with some saying, 'That's what we call free speech, with a side of humour. Keep it coming.'
Some also thanked the creator of the statue, calling it 'legendary'. 'Thanks to whoever did this,' the comment read.
Another user said, 'National Park Service fires back with a permit. Love it!'
However, not everyone welcomed the piece of art. 'So when the majority of people vote someone using their rights, it is frowned up and then called a dictatorship. When woke people with a pink and yellow hair do, its called sovereignty. Make it make sense!, a user wrote on Instagram.
'The hateful rhetoric of the left,' another user said.
Some tourists who stopped by to see the statue told The Washington Post that they were surprised that it was allowed to be placed where it was. An 80-year-old from Australia, who didn't share his last name, said, 'I'm amazed that whoever dreamed this up could put this here,' adding, 'It reminds me of Animal Farm.'
'I actually love it,' said a District resident, who also didn't share his name.
Abigail Martin, 21, visiting from Cleveland said, 'At first I was confused, but then I figured it out. I think it's beautiful.'
(With inputs from The Washington Post, Reuters)