Local artist Bill Secunda recently unveiled a unique sculpture of former President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show. The sculpture, made entirely of around 4,000 twisted and bent metal nails, depicts Trump defiantly raising his right fist in the air. Secunda was inspired to create this piece after witnessing Trump’s resilience during an assassination attempt in Butler.
Secunda, known for his nail-based structures, wanted to capture Trump’s determination and strength in the face of adversity. The 6-foot 3-inch high statue showcases Trump in a navy suit with his arm raised, embodying a sense of firm resolve. The artist hopes that the sculpture will inspire others to find strength during challenging times.
The meticulous process of creating the sculpture involved welding each nail into place on an armature. Secunda also paid close attention to details like Trump’s iconic hair and ears to ensure an accurate representation. This politically themed artwork marks a departure from his usual creations of life-size animals and religious figures.
In a symbolic gesture, Secunda modified an earlier sculpture of Trump to reflect the assassination attempt. He removed Trump’s right arm and repositioned it to show him raising his fist with determination. The original sculpture depicted Trump as a superhero with a gold-colored letter “T” on his chest, which was replaced to emphasize the shooting incident.
Despite receiving offers to sell the original sculpture, Secunda held onto it with the hope of showing it to Trump in person one day. With Trump hinting at a potential return to Butler for a campaign rally, Secunda sees this as an opportunity to finally share his artwork with the former president. The base of the sculpture features the words “tough as nails,” echoing Trump’s resilience in the face of adversity.
