An anonymous art group just dropped its boldest troll yet against President Donald Trump in the middle of Manhattan. The Secret Handshake installed a massive golden trophy mocking the president’s role in the Iran conflict.
Secret Handshake installed a giant trophy to troll Donald Trump amid Iran war
The Secret Handshake, an anonymous art collective, placed a 10-foot-tall golden “Iran War Participation Trophy” in New York City’s Foley Square on Wednesday, The Washington Post reported. The massive trophy displays a #1 on its side and targets President Donald Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict. A plaque on the base awards Trump “this participation trophy for his enthusiastic involvement in the Iran War.”
The piece originally debuted in Washington on July 13 before relocating to Lower Manhattan. Over three dozen smaller mock trophies and ribbons sit around the main structure. One baby blue Honorable Mention ribbon states “Lost Arizona,” and a small gold chess trophy carries the tag “Smallest Hands Award.”
The Iran conflict started on Feb. 28 and has claimed the lives of 18 American service members. The fighting has also left more than 600 troops wounded. The plaque further notes that Trump “demonstrated the courage to participate regardless of the final score.”
Reactions from people passing the installation near nearby courthouses varied widely. DJ Hairston, a 37-year-old lawyer, remarked, “It’s definitely funny. Because that’s what this is — this is a participation war.” Maren Stange, 79, found the work clever but doubted its effectiveness. She wondered aloud, “But what’s it going to do?”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly condemned the artists after the trophy first surfaced in Washington. Kelly stated, “These untalented ‘artists’ should stick to their ugly ‘art’ and refrain from weighing in on foreign policy.” The group has erected roughly a dozen satirical installations across Washington over the past 20 months. Previous pieces featured a statue depicting Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands alongside a mock tribute from global authoritarian leaders.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
