A bizarre art heist has left Slovenians scratching their heads after a controversial bronze statue of former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump mysteriously disappeared from its riverside location, leaving only the feet behind. The strange case marks the second time a statue honoring Sevnica’s most famous daughter has met an unfortunate end in her hometown.

The life-sized bronze figure had stood on the banks of the River Sava since July 2020, four months before Melania left the White House. The statue’s sudden disappearance in recent days has created an art world mystery worthy of a Hollywood plot. All that remains at the site are the statue’s bronze feet still attached to their two-meter-tall wooden pedestal, creating a surreal scene that looks like something from a Wes Anderson film.

This isn’t the first Melania statue to face trouble in Sevnica. The original wooden version, carved with a chainsaw by local artist Ales “Maxi” Zupevc in 2019, met its demise when someone set it on fire during Fourth of July celebrations in 2020. American artist Brad Downey, who commissioned both statues, had anticipated potential vandalism and created a bronze cast of the wooden original as a more permanent replacement.

At the bronze statue’s unveiling, Downey confidently declared the new version was made “as solid as possible, out of a durable material which cannot be wantonly destroyed.” The artist’s confidence proved misplaced when someone apparently sawed through the ankles to remove the entire statue, leaving the feet behind like some modern art installation about impermanence.

Local police have opened a theft investigation, but the motives behind the disappearance remain unclear. Downey suspects political reasons may be involved, telling reporters the timing suggests it “has something to do with Trump getting re-elected.” The artist has always been open about the political nature of his work, choosing Maxi as collaborator because his working-class Slovenian background mirrored Melania’s own roots.

The statues have been controversial from the start. While celebrating a local girl made good, they also carried subtle criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Downey has pointed out the irony that Melania benefited from a fast-tracked citizenship process while her husband implemented what the artist called “xenophobic” policies affecting other immigrants.

Sevnica officials have offered mixed reactions to the statue’s disappearance. While condemning vandalism of public property, they admitted the Melania likeness “was not something anyone was proud of.” The town has always had an uneasy relationship with its famous former resident, who left Slovenia for modeling opportunities before marrying Donald Trump.

The original wooden statue’s folksy, rough-hewn appearance sparked international headlines when unveiled, with many observers noting it bore little resemblance to the polished former model. The bronze version was more refined but maintained an abstract quality that continued to divide opinion. Some saw it as a thoughtful commentary on Melania’s journey from small-town Slovenia to the White House, while others considered it an unflattering caricature.

Art experts suggest the statue’s destruction and subsequent disappearance may become part of its artistic legacy. “In a strange way, the vandalism completes the artwork,” said Ljubljana art critic Maja Vesel. “These acts of destruction speak to the polarized reactions Melania Trump inspires, making the statue’s troubled existence a kind of performance art about contemporary politics.”

As police search for clues, the case has taken on elements of a surreal mystery. Who would steal a heavy bronze statue of an American former first lady? Was this a political statement, an art heist, or just drunken mischief? The answers remain as elusive as the missing statue itself.

For now, the bronze feet stand as lonely sentinels overlooking the river, a peculiar monument to a statue that was and then wasn’t. They’ve already become an unlikely tourist attraction, with visitors posing for photos where the full figure once stood. Some locals joke that the feet make better art than the complete statue ever did.

Back in America, there’s been no comment from Melania Trump about her Slovenian statue’s strange fate. One wonders if the former first lady, known for her carefully controlled public image, might secretly prefer this outcome – her likeness vanished from public view, leaving behind only questions and a pair of empty shoes.

As Sevnica moves on from yet another Melania statue controversy, the town may have to consider whether any future tribute to its famous daughter is worth the trouble. For now, the riverbank stands empty but for those haunting bronze feet – a fitting metaphor, perhaps, for how little connection the former first lady maintains with the hometown she left behind so many years ago.