Authorities in Slovenia have launched an investigation after a bronze statue of former First Lady Melania Trump was stolen from a field near her hometown earlier this week, as reported by The New York Post.

The life-sized sculpture, created by American artist Brad Downey, was reportedly cut off at the ankles and removed from its mounting location in Sevnica, a town in central Slovenia where Trump was raised.

The theft was reported on May 13. A police spokesperson confirmed Thursday that officers immediately responded to the scene and began an investigation.

The statue, which had been anchored to a tree stump in a rural area, was discovered missing after someone used an unspecified tool to sever it at the base.

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This is the second time a statue of Melania Trump has been targeted in the region. A previous wooden sculpture in the same area was destroyed in 2020 after being set on fire. The damaged piece was later replaced with the bronze version that has now also disappeared.

Artist Brad Downey, who originally commissioned and installed the sculpture, commented on the theft. “I’m a bit sad that it’s gone,” Downey said.

He also speculated on the timing of the incident, adding, “My feeling is that it has something to do with the new election [of Donald Trump], but who knows, right?”

Melania Trump was born in Novo Mesto in 1970, when Slovenia was still part of Yugoslavia. She spent her formative years in Sevnica before eventually pursuing a career in modeling and later becoming a U.S. citizen.

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The bronze statue had stood in a field just outside the town, and while it was not guarded or in a secured facility, its removal still required deliberate effort, raising questions about the motive and planning behind the act.

Slovenian police have not named any suspects and have not disclosed further details about how the statue was removed or whether any witnesses were present. The investigation remains ongoing.

Officials in Sevnica and law enforcement agencies have not confirmed whether the statue will be replaced for a second time. It is also unclear if there is any surveillance footage or forensic evidence that could help identify those responsible.

The disappearance comes as former President Donald Trump remains in the national spotlight and continues to draw both support and criticism amid his ongoing political activity.

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