A wax statue of Donald Trump has been taken off public display at Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks in San Antonio, Texas, after visitors repeatedly attacked it. Over time, the life-sized figure was punched, scratched, and damaged so badly that staff decided it could no longer stay on show.
Museum workers said the statue showed clear signs of abuse, with marks and damage building up over time. Eventually, they admitted it had been attacked “one too many times,” leaving them no choice but to remove it from the exhibit for safety and preservation reasons.
The museum is operated by Ripley Entertainment, and a company spokesperson explained that this kind of behaviour is not entirely new. She said visitors sometimes take swings at wax figures, adding that similar things have happened to statues of other political leaders like Barack Obama and George Bush, as well as well-known celebrities. According to her, it is an unfortunate but common issue in wax museums.
Managers at the attraction explained that political figures tend to attract more aggressive reactions than other displays. Clay Stewart, a regional manager for Ripley’s, said that when a figure represents a highly divisive political figure, damage becomes much more likely. He also pointed out that not all damage comes from anger. Many visitors lean in too close while taking photos, accidentally knocking the figures or wearing them down through constant contact.
As a result, the Trump wax figure showed heavy wear not only from direct attacks but also from countless photo attempts by visitors trying to pose beside it.
Museum staff have not confirmed when the Trump figure will return to display. However, they suggested it could come back once a wax figure of Joe Biden, which is currently being made, is ready. At that point, both figures may be displayed together.
The Trump statue was originally designed to capture his familiar serious expression and trademark two-thumbs-up pose, aiming to look as realistic as possible for visitors. The museum stressed that it is not politically motivated and has no plans to investigate or publicly identify those who damaged the figure.
This is not the first time artwork linked to Trump has caused controversy. Earlier this year, a student at Kent State University sparked global outrage after creating an art installation showing Trump’s head mounted on a spike. In another case, Trump criticised artist Sarah Boardman over a portrait of him displayed in the Colorado State Capitol, calling it “truly the worst.”
Boardman said the criticism deeply affected her, even though the portrait had been displayed without issue for six years. She explained that Trump’s comments caused people to question her intentions, professionalism, and artistic ability, putting her long-standing career at risk. She warned that the damage to her reputation could be lasting and difficult to recover from.
