Giant nude Trump effigy on display behind Phoenix dispensary
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This huge effigy of former President Trump appeared in Phoenix on Thursday morning. Photo: Jeremy Duda/Axios
A giant nude effigy of former President Trump that was displayed near Las Vegas several days ago seems to have relocated behind a Phoenix marijuana dispensary Thursday morning, and, as one onlooker noted, it's a weirder day than usual at the weed store.
The big picture: The effigy, titled "Crooked and Obscene," appeared suspended from a crane near Interstate 15 north of Las Vegas on Friday, numerous outlets reported.
- The 43-foot, 6,000-pound marionette — the arms move — is made of foam over rebar, per various news outlets.
- The Wrap reported that the effigy will travel to other cities around the U.S. as part of a "Crooked and Obscene Tour."
State of play: The nude effigy disappeared from Las Vegas after less than 48 hours, but a statue that appears to be the same one showed up Thursday morning behind the BudSmart marijuana dispensary near 24th and Washington streets.
- It could be seen in its entirety from across a vacant lot on the northwest corner of the intersection.
Zoom in: Tom Yarak, the property's majority owner, told Axios that he was approached by a third-party broker who wanted to rent the property to temporarily store the statue.
- On Thursday, he agreed to allow the effigy's handlers to temporarily put it up so they could take a few pictures, not realizing how long it would be up. He said he probably would've asked them to store it somewhere else if he'd known.
- Yarak described it as a business transaction and said he didn't agree to store the effigy out of animosity toward Trump, saying, "I'm like Switzerland, brother."
Between the lines: It's unclear from news coverage who is responsible for the effigy.
- A man who came out front from behind the building told several onlookers they couldn't go back for a closer look because it's on private property and the effigy is guarded by security.
- Yarak said he doesn't know who owns the statue.
What they're saying: The Nevada Republican Party condemned the statue as "pornographic" and "deplorable," saying in a statement, "While families drive through Las Vegas, they are forced to view this offensive marionette, designed intentionally for shock value rather than meaningful dialogue."
- The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Axios.