Gilded Donald Trump Statue in Washington Mocks Vietnam Draft Deferment
A gilded statue of Donald Trump titled 'The Foot Soldier' has been erected in Washington ahead of Veterans Day, mocking his Vietnam War draft deferments.
Ahead of Veterans Day in the United States, a gilded statue of Donald Trump has been erected on the National Mall in Washington, sparking renewed debate over his draft deferments during the Vietnam War. The artwork, titled "The Foot Soldier," depicts the US president sitting on a granite pedestal and examining his right foot after removing a shoe.
The installation, placed opposite the National Gallery of Art sculpture garden, makes direct reference to a 2018 New York Times investigation. According to the report, a podiatrist in Queens, New York, diagnosed Trump with bone spurs in 1968, providing the medical exemption that allowed him to avoid military service in Vietnam. The report alleged the diagnosis was a favor to Trump's father, following four previous academic deferments.
The statue's plaque bears a satirical inscription honoring the commander-in-chief's service and his evasion of military deployment. The Secret Handshake art collective, which organized the installation, stated that the project aims to highlight Trump's past efforts to avoid combat zones as he continues to engage in military and geopolitical matters.
In response to the installation, the White House dismissed the stunt as the product of political opposition. A spokesperson stated that critics suffering from political animosity are unable to distract from the administration's commitment to defending the American people.
