In Butler, Pennsylvania, a local artist named Bill Secunda has created a unique life-size sculpture of former President Donald Trump. The sculpture is made entirely out of nails, symbolizing the phrase “tough as nails,” which Secunda believes perfectly captures Trump’s resilience. This creative work was inspired by a dramatic incident where Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler.
Secunda was deeply moved by Trump’s reaction during the assassination attempt, where Trump, after being grazed by a bullet, raised his fist and encouraged his supporters to “Fight, fight, fight.” This powerful moment led Secunda to craft the sculpture, which he unveiled at the Butler Farm Show, the same place where the incident occurred on July 13.
In an interview, Secunda shared his thoughts about the sculpture. He aimed to capture Trump’s expression of determination, urging people to fight for what they believe in, but to do so peacefully and correctly. Secunda was particularly struck by the way Trump raised his fist in defiance as Secret Service agents quickly moved him to safety. This image of strength and resolve inspired Secunda to create a statue that would not only honor Trump but also encourage others to be strong during challenging times.
The sculpture, standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, is made from around 4,000 twisted and bent metal nails. It shows Trump in a light navy suit, with his right fist raised high in the air, reflecting the defiance he displayed on that fateful day. Secunda hopes that his work will inspire people to find strength within themselves during tough times, just as Trump did.
Secunda explained that creating the sculpture was no easy task. He started by building an armature, which served as the framework for the piece. Then, he carefully welded each nail into place, a process that involved heating and bending the nails to achieve the desired shape. This technique is something Secunda has used in many of his other artworks, which include life-size sculptures of various animals like moose, bears, bison, and lions.
One of the most challenging aspects of the sculpture was recreating Trump’s iconic hair. Secunda did extensive research to get the details just right. He used a brazing rod to form the hair and then welded it onto the sculpture, giving it a yellow finish to match Trump’s distinctive hairstyle.
Interestingly, this is Secunda’s first politically themed sculpture. Although he has created many other works, including two large statues of Jesus Christ on the cross, this Trump sculpture is unique in its subject matter. However, it’s not the first time Secunda has created a Trump sculpture. In 2020, he made a piece that depicted Trump ripping open his shirt like Superman to reveal a gold-colored letter “T.” After the assassination attempt, Secunda decided to modify that earlier sculpture to reflect the new reality.
In the revamped sculpture, Secunda removed Trump’s right arm and reattached it to show him raising a clenched fist. He also removed the “T” on Trump’s chest and reworked the shirt and chest area. Finally, he burned a hole in the sculpture’s right ear to represent the bullet that grazed Trump during the assassination attempt.
Secunda mentioned that he once had an opportunity to sell the original sculpture but chose not to because he wanted to keep it and possibly show it to Trump one day. Now, with the updated version, Secunda feels that the sculpture carries an even stronger message. He hopes that if Trump ever returns to Butler for another rally, he will have the chance to show him the sculpture in person.
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At the base of the sculpture, the words “tough as nails” are prominently displayed, a fitting tribute to the former president’s resilience and determination.
