An anonymous art collective installed a 10-foot-tall [1] golden trophy in New York City to satirically mock former President Donald Trump.
The installation serves as a public critique of the former president's foreign policy decisions. By placing the monument in a high-traffic area of Lower Manhattan, the creators aim to spark public discourse on U.S. military involvement abroad.
The artwork, created by the group known as "Secret Handshake," appeared in Foley Square during the early week of July 2026 [2]. The trophy is described as a participation award for Trump's alleged enthusiastic involvement in the Iran war [1]. While some reports focus specifically on the Iran conflict, other descriptions characterize the piece more broadly as a troll of his general foreign-policy record [2].
Before arriving in New York, the statue was first displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. [3]. The move to Manhattan shifted the installation from the seat of government to a center of urban public life, a common tactic for political street art intended to maximize visibility.
The 10-foot [1] structure is designed to mimic the aesthetic of a traditional sports trophy, though its scale and placement suggest a commentary on the perceived performative nature of political leadership. The creators of the piece remain anonymous, maintaining the secrecy of the Secret Handshake collective.
Local authorities in Lower Manhattan have monitored the installation since it arrived in late July 2026 [2]. The piece continues to draw crowds in Foley Square, where it stands as a temporary landmark of political dissent.
“A 10-foot-tall golden trophy mocking Trump’s alleged "enthusiastic involvement in the Iran war"”
The installation reflects a continuing trend of using large-scale, guerrilla art to engage with political polarization in the U.S. By transitioning the piece from the National Mall to New York City, the artists are moving the critique from a political theater to a civilian one, emphasizing the social impact of foreign policy decisions over purely legislative ones.
