A new sculpture of former U.S. President Donald Trump, portrayed as a crucified prisoner, has stirred heated debate in Switzerland over the boundaries of art, politics, and faith.

The lifelike piece, titled “Saint or Sinner,” was unveiled along Basel’s Kunstmeile promenade, near the city’s main train station. Created by British artist Mason Storm, the sculpture depicts Trump in an orange prison jumpsuit, eyes closed, arms outstretched, and mounted on a white cross — an image that merges political scandal with religious symbolism.

According to the artist, the work examines the tension between sanctity and guilt, power and punishment. The crucifixion motif, he explained, represents “the fine line between martyrdom and accountability,” inviting viewers to question how modern societies sanctify or condemn their leaders.

Gallery owner Konrad Breznik, who organized the Basel display, described the piece as “disturbingly lifelike.” He noted that the sculpture’s hyper-realistic detail — down to Trump’s wrinkles and skin texture — makes the visual experience both fascinating and unsettling.

Art critics say the installation reflects Trump’s polarizing public persona and his long-standing narrative of self-victimization. Some have tied the sculpture to Trump’s own recent comments — “I don’t think there’s a thing I’ve done that would get me to heaven” — which reignited debate over his moral and spiritual self-awareness.

Public reaction has been sharply divided. While many visitors view “Saint or Sinner” as a legitimate expression of political dissent, others have condemned it as a blasphemous insult to religious values. Local Christian groups have criticized the artist for exploiting sacred imagery for political commentary, while supporters defend it as a freedom-of-expression statement highlighting the dangers of political idolatry.

For Mason Storm, however, the controversy itself is part of the artwork’s purpose. “If people are arguing, then it means the piece is doing its job,” he said.

More than an artistic provocation, “Saint or Sinner” stands as a mirror to the mythos surrounding Donald Trump — forcing onlookers to grapple with the blurred boundary between redemption and retribution in an era of spectacle-driven politics. (ILKHA)