Red, Pursed-Lipped Donald Trump’s Sculpture Emerges From Manhattan Manhole

Last Updated:July 26, 2025, 20:58 IST

French street artist James Colomina installed a bright red sculpture of Donald Trump in Manhattan, depicting him emerging from a manhole.

A bright red sculpture of US President Donald Trump emerged from a manhole on East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. (Reuters)

New Yorkers woke up to an unexpected sight this week on Wednesday when a bright red sculpture of US President Donald Trump appeared at a busy intersection in Manhattan, seemingly climbing out of a manhole.

The life-size, red-coloured statue of the US President, titled Donald, was secretly installed by French street artist James Colomina at the corner of East 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue, roughly a mile from Trump Tower, USA Today reported.

Colomina, known for his provocative red sculptures placed unannounced in public spaces, told the news outlet that the location of placing the sculpture was intentional saying that it was the same place where Trump built his image.

“I installed the sculpture in New York because this is where he built his image, his empire, his legend. A city he tried to conquer with golden towers and brutal slogans. I wanted this image, a red body rising from the sewers, to disturb that landscape," he told USA Today.

The bright red sculpture, made of resin, depicted Trump from the waist up, emerging from a manhole, also part of the sculpture. Wearing a suit and tie, the statue portrayed a serious-looking and pursed-lipped Trump looking upward at the skyscraper above him. Under the manhole cover lid, a small red rat peered outward.

The installation of the statue faced the Chrysler Building, a placement Colomina said was deliberate.

“The sculpture is installed right across from the Chrysler Building, a symbol of power, elevation, and architectural pride. I liked the idea of creating a stark contrast between this vertical monument and the grotesque figure emerging from the sewers," he added.

However, it was quickly removed by a maintenance worker.

Colomina said the entire sculpture was made in France over three weeks. He then disassembled and transported it to New York, and later reassembled the sculpture on site.

The French artist also posted a photo of the sculpture to his Instagram story on July 23, with the caption “Make America Grime Again," a reference to Trump’s popular motto, “Make America Great Again."

White House Reacts

The Trump administration dismissed the installation. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson told USA Today, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This ‘artist’ will have to go back to the drawing board. Or perhaps art school."

Who Is James Colomina?

Colomina is a street artist, known for his bright red, life-size sculptures, which have been installed in Tokyo, Barcelona, Paris, and many other cities.

“The ‘Colomina Red,’ the artist’s visual signature, embodies the anger, passion, and urgency of the issues he tackles," Colomina’s artist biography on the Galeries Bartoux website said.

“James Colomina favors a clandestine, spontaneous approach: He places his works directly in the street, without prior announcement, transforming everyday spaces into platforms for artistic reflection."

New York, United States of America (USA)

News world Red, Pursed-Lipped Donald Trump’s Sculpture Emerges From Manhattan Manhole