It was barely sunrise on a Saturday in late September 2024 when commuters heading north on Interstate 15 toward Las Vegas saw something that definitely wasn't in the tourism brochure. Dangling from a crane in a dusty, fenced-in lot near Apex Harbor Lane was a 43-foot-tall, 6,000-pound effigy of a naked Donald Trump.
Wild.
People were slamming on their brakes. Some were laughing; others were calling the cops or venting on X (formerly Twitter). The sculpture, titled "Crooked and Obscene," wasn't just big—it was a literal marionette, suspended by thick ropes like a giant, fleshy puppet. It was made of foam layered over a heavy rebar skeleton. Honestly, the scale of it was hard to wrap your head around unless you were standing right under its massive, pale feet.
The Mystery Behind the Donald Trump Las Vegas Statue
So, who actually built this thing? That’s where it gets kinda murky. While the 2016 naked Trump statues (the ones titled The Emperor Has No Balls) were the work of artist Joshua "Ginger" Monroe and the collective INDECLINE, the creators of this 2024 Las Vegas version chose to stay anonymous.
A spokesperson for the artists basically said the nudity was "intentional." They claimed it was a "bold statement on transparency and vulnerability." They wanted to strip away the "Armani suit" and the political armor to show the man behind the persona. Whether you buy that artistic defense or think it’s just a cheap stunt, it definitely worked as a conversation starter.
The Nevada Republican Party wasn't having any of it. They released a blistering statement calling the display "deplorable" and "pornographic." They were particularly annoyed that families driving by had to see it. It’s a bit ironic considering the "Sin City" backdrop, but for many locals, this crossed a line from political satire into something much more offensive.
Why it didn't last long
If you were hoping to see it during a weekend trip to the Strip, you probably missed it. It was only up for about 48 to 72 hours.
Clark County officials moved fast. Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick reached out to the property owner of the private lot, pointing out that there were no permits for a structure of that size. By Monday morning, the crane was gone, the rebar was packed up, and the 43-foot Trump was hauled away.
Where did it go? The organizers originally planned a "Crooked and Obscene Tour," intending to hit every major swing state before the 2024 election. They wanted to take this 3-ton puppet to places like Pennsylvania and Michigan. However, logistics for moving a 6,000-pound foam man are a nightmare. After the Vegas debut, the statue mostly faded from the headlines, likely sitting in a warehouse or traveling in pieces.
How it compares to the 2016 statues
This wasn't the first time Vegas dealt with a naked Trump. Back in 2016, a life-sized version appeared on Fremont Street.
- Size: The 2016 versions were roughly 6'5". The 2024 Vegas statue was nearly seven times that height.
- Material: Both used foam and clay/silicone, but the 2024 version required a heavy-duty rebar frame to keep it from collapsing under its own weight.
- Market Value: One of the original 2016 statues actually sold at Julien’s Auctions for $22,000. It’s unclear if the 43-foot giant will ever hit the auction block, but shipping costs alone would probably bankrupt most collectors.
What the public really thought
I've talked to people who saw it in person. The reactions were all over the place. One resident, Jason, mentioned he was just driving to work and saw a "big white thing" in the distance. He thought it was a billboard being installed until he got closer.
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There's a specific kind of "only in Vegas" vibe to this whole story. Some folks saw it as a legitimate exercise in free speech. Others saw it as a "despicable" attack on a presidential candidate. The timing was also key—it appeared right as the 2024 campaign was hitting a fever pitch in Nevada, which remains one of the most contested states in the country.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re looking to track down more political art or understand the impact of these installations, here’s how to navigate the noise:
- Verify the "Tour" Status: Don't believe every social media post saying the statue is "coming to your town tomorrow." These installations require massive cranes and private land permits. Most "sightings" after October 2024 have been unverified or involve smaller, different sculptures.
- Check Local Zoning: If you're an artist planning something similar, know that "private property" doesn't mean "anything goes." Clark County shut the statue down based on safety and permitting, not necessarily the content of the art.
- Differentiate the Artists: Remember that Joshua Monroe (Ginger) was the face of the 2016 statues, but he hasn't officially taken credit for the 2024 43-foot version. Keep the "Emperor" series separate from the "Crooked and Obscene" project in your research.
- Visit the 2016 Survivors: If you want to see the "original" style, some are still held in private collections or museums. One was famously rescued by a haunted house owner in New Jersey.
The Donald Trump Las Vegas statue was a flash-in-the-pan moment of political theater that left a massive footprint—literally. Whether you viewed it as a masterpiece or a monstrosity, it proved one thing: in the world of political campaigning, size and shock value still rule the day.
Next Steps for Research:
Research the INDECLINE art collective's official website for their archives on the "Crooked and Obscene" tour. You can also monitor the Julien's Auctions database for any future listings of large-scale political ephemera.