Rebild Festival bars Trump statue over safety concerns

The Rebild Festival, Denmark’s annual celebration of US Independence Day, will not allow a satirical statue of former US President Donald Trump to be displayed at this year’s event, organisers confirmed.

Artist Jens Galschiøt had planned to bring his sculpture, The Orange Plague, depicting a nude Trump riding on the shoulders of an emaciated man, to the festival in Rebild Bakker on Saturday. The work has previously been exhibited at international events, including the Munich Security Conference and Brazil’s climate summit.

In an email seen by DR, the festival’s security chief cited safety risks, stating that a mobility scooter carrying the sculpture could obstruct emergency routes on the steep gravel paths. He also warned that the festival aimed to avoid political statements.

Galschiøt dismissed the concerns, noting that the scooter had navigated similar terrain without issue at Bornholm’s Folkemødet. He called the threat of police involvement—mentioned in the email and followed by a call from an officer—“aggressively toned” for a piece intended as lighthearted satire.

Mette Bugge, secretary-general of the Rebild Society, reiterated that safety was the primary concern but added that the sculpture’s message did not align with the festival’s focus on human relations rather than political commentary.

The festival, held since 1912, has faced pressure this year after US government representatives withdrew amid political tensions, including Trump’s past remarks about Greenland.