Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) exists even in first lady Melania Trump’s Slovenian hometown of Sevnica, where statues of her have been vandalized two times in a row.
The first one, a wooden statue made out of a fallen linden tree, was set on fire on July 4 of 2020. A day later, artist Brad Downey removed the disfigured and blackened statue.
“I want to know why they did it,” Downey told The Guardian at the time, adding that he’d hoped the statue would inspire a conversation about the political situation in the United States.
A statue depicting Melania Trump was removed from where it stood near the first lady’s hometown in Slovenia after after it was set on fire and badly scorched on the 4th of July. https://t.co/LeIdgRpNj2 pic.twitter.com/dUY97SGHKB
— ABC News (@ABC) July 10, 2020
Downey also denied rumors that he’d set the statue on fire himself as part of the artistic process.
“I neither set fire to the statue, nor did I commission anyone to do so,” he said.
Two months later, Downey erected a new statue of Melania — one made of bronze.
“The bronze likeness has been placed on the same tree stump where the wooden statue stood before it was badly damaged,” the Guardian reported. “Modelled on the previous design, Downey has said he hopes it will now be harder to destroy.”
Indeed, the new one was made specifically out of bronze to be “as solid as possible, out of a durable material which cannot be wantonly destroyed,” according to Downey.
New bronze statue of Melania Trump in her hometown in Slovenia. Replaces the wooden one burnt last year. pic.twitter.com/TgBSIcRkiN
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) September 16, 2020
Four years later, the bronze statue has now been snatched up.
“The theft was reported on 13 May and immediately police officers visited the crime scene and launched an investigation,” police spokesperson Alenka Drenik Rangus told AFP.
According to the police, the statue was chopped off at the ankles and then removed from the scene.
“My feeling is that it has something to do with the new election [of Donald Trump], but who knows, right?” Downey said.
NEW: This is what the Melania Trump statue looks like in her Slovenia hometown now. It was chopped off at the feet and stolen – NYT pic.twitter.com/6XFG6h7JAo
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 17, 2025
Locals in Sevnica are reportedly divided over the possible motivation for the arson and now theft.
“Some in the town of about 5,000 people in eastern Slovenia say it could have been an act of vandalism; others say it was probably melted down for cash,” according to The New York Times.
Of course, the most likely motivation for the theft is TDS, an unofficial mental disorder marked by irrational, unhinged reactions both here and abroad to President Donald Trump and his family.
Speaking of which, this week, Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson introduced a bill that “would direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the psychological and social roots of what is known as [TDS].”
“TDS has divided families, the country, and led to nationwide violence—including two assassination attempts on President Trump,” Davidson said in a statement. “The TDS Research Act would require the NIH to study this toxic state of mind, so we can understand the root cause and identify solutions.”
“Instead of funding ludicrous studies such as giving methamphetamine to cats or teaching monkeys to gamble for their drinking water, the NIH should use that funding to research issues that are relevant to the real world,” he added.
The bill would reportedly use “existing NIH resources” to “investigate” TDS’ origins, “analyze” its impact on people, “explore” potential interventions, and “provide data-driven insights into how media and polarization shape political violence and social unrest.”
GOP Rep introduces bill to research root causes and solutions for those suffering with TDS https://t.co/k9aiXSAzre via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) May 16, 2025
All this comes two months after Minnesota Republicans introduced a state bill that would legally define TDS as a mental illness.
The bill defined TDS as “the acute onset of paranoia in otherwise normal persons that is in reaction to the policies and presidencies of President Donald J. Trump.”
“Symptoms may include Trump-induced general hysteria, which produces an inability to distinguish between legitimate policy differences and signs of psychic pathology in President Donald J. Trump’s behavior,” the surprisingly accurate definition continued.
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V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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