Melania Trump statue stolen from hometown after first one torched

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FILE: Life-sized bronze statue of Melania Trump stands in Rono, a village neighbouring her hometown Sevnica on September 17, 2020 in Rono, Slovenia. (Photo by Matic Zorman/Getty Images)

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A bronze statue of First Lady Melania Trump has disappeared from her hometown in Slovenia. 

The life-size sculpture was unveiled in 2020 during President Donald Trump’s first term in office near Sevnica in central Slovenia, where Melanija Knavs was born in 1970. It replaced a wooden statue that had been set on fire earlier that year.

Statue stolen

What we don't know:

Police spokeswoman Alenka Drenik Rangus said police were informed about the theft of the statue on Tuesday. She said police were working to track down those responsible.

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According to Slovenian media reports, the bronze replica was sawed off at the ankles and removed.

What they're saying:

Franja Kranjc, who works at a bakery in Sevnica that sells cakes with Melania Trump's name in support of the first lady, said the stolen statue won't be missed.

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"I think no one was really proud at this statue, not even the first lady of the USA," he said. "So I think its OK that it's removed."

The backstory:

The original wooden statue was burned in July 2020. The rustic figure was cut from the trunk of a linden tree, showing her in a pale blue dress like the one she wore at Trump’s presidential inauguration in 2017. The replica bronze statue has no obvious resemblance with the first lady.