New Statue of Trump Installed on National Mall
On November 9, 2026, a satirical statue depicting former President Donald Trump was unveiled on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., just ahead of Veterans Day. The statue, titled The Foot Soldier, critiques Trump’s deferment of the Vietnam War draft, which he attributed to a diagnosis of bone spurs.
Details of the Installation
The installation, created by a collective of anonymous artists known as the Secret Handshake, is located near the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. The statue features Trump seated and rubbing his bare foot, presenting a humorous take on his health-related draft deferment.
Accompanying the statue is a plaque that reads:
“We honor the service and sacrifice of our commander in chief, Donald J Trump. He’s a soldier in spirit who marched to the front lines of dodging the draft, armed with a perfect diagnosis of bone spurs.”
Public Response and Interactive Elements
In addition to the statue, an interactive mascot named “Toey,” designed to resemble a toe suffering from bone spurs, was present to engage with visitors. A person dressed as Toey humorously stated:
“Draft dodger? I hardly know her. I’m the biggest toe. The hugest toe. Huge. Hugest toe. Largest toe that anyone’s ever seen.”
Context Behind the Artwork
The artwork references Trump’s controversial medical deferment from military service during the Vietnam War era in 1968, following his college graduation. Allegations have persisted throughout Trump’s political career regarding the circumstances of his bone spurs diagnosis. For example, a 2018 article by the New York Times suggested that a Queens-based foot doctor may have provided a diagnosis at the behest of Trump’s father. Additionally, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen testified in 2019 that Trump had intentionally avoided the draft.
In a response to the statue, David Ingle, spokesperson for the White House, remarked:
“Trump Derangement Syndrome is a sick and incurable disease that has rotted the brains of these Democrat activists. President Trump will never waver in fighting for and protecting the American people.”
Previous Works by Secret Handshake
The Secret Handshake has previously produced satirical art addressing various aspects of Trump’s presidency, including installations related to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and the remodeling of the Lincoln bathroom during a government shutdown. In 2022, they unveiled a statue called “Best Friends Forever,” which depicted Trump and Epstein in a hand-holding pose.
Availability
The Foot Soldier and Toey will remain on display at the National Mall until Veterans Day, providing a poignant and humorous commentary on themes of service and sacrifice in American life.
