A massive golden hand giving a thumbs-up — and crushing the Statue of Liberty — has appeared in the heart of Washington, DC, just days after President Donald Trump’s military parade.
The eight-foot-tall sculpture, titled Dictator Approved, was quietly installed on the National Mall near the Capitol. The bronze Lady Liberty lies broken, her crown cracked and a spike knocked off, symbolizing democracy under pressure. The artist behind it remains anonymous.
The hand, painted in flashy gold, mirrors Trump’s taste for the color — from his infamous golden escalator entrance in 2015 to the redesigned Oval Office under his presidency. The pedestal of the sculpture features gold plaques with quotes from authoritarian world leaders, all praising Trump.
“President Trump ‘is a very bright and talented man,’” reads a quote from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s words are also on display: “The most respected, the most feared person is Donald Trump.”
The statue appeared just after Trump’s military parade on June 14 — his birthday. The event drew criticism for resembling displays in countries like North Korea, China, and Russia. Protesters across the country held “No Kings” demonstrations the same week.
According to a permit obtained by The Independent, the artwork is legally allowed to stay until June 22. The permit states:
“Military parade on 6/14 will feature imagery similar of autocratic, oppressive regimes, i.e. N. Korea, Russia, and China, marching through DC. This statue will call attention of that imagery by linking our American traditions of freedom of the actually praising these types of oppressive leaders have given Donald Trump.”
One passerby, Diane, told WTOP: “It’s just a sign of today’s political climate. It’s crushing liberty, that’s what it says to me.”
A 24/7 security guard is required to watch over the sculpture. The guard told Washingtonian that reactions from the public have been “pretty mixed.”
