New 'Dictator Approved' statue pops up on the National Mall

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New ‘Dictator Approved’ statue pops up on the National Mall

Scott Gelman | [e-mail]
June 18, 2025, 5:41 AM

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New ‘Dictator Approved’ statue pops up on the National Mall

A gold thumb, crushed Statue of Liberty and satirical quotes are all part of a new statue generating a buzz along the National Mall. .. The artwork is called “Dictator Approved” and is scheduled to be on the part of the Mall closest to 3rd Street until Sunday, according to a National Park Service permit.

The statue includes a gold thumb appearing to crush the top of the Statue of Liberty. There are quotes from various world leaders on gold plaques along the sides, including a quote from Russian President Vladimir Putin that said President Donald Trump “is a very bright and talented man.”

The new artwork is in almost the same location as a poop-covered desk “memorial” for Jan. 6 rioters that popped up in October before the election. … “It’s just a sign of today’s political climate,” Diane, a woman walking in the Mall, said. “It’s crushing liberty, that’s what it says to me.”

It’s unclear who the artist is, and the NPS Permit said “Military parade on 6/14 will feature imagery similar of autocratic, oppressive regimes, i.e. N. Korea, Russia, and China, marching through DC. This statue will call attention of that imagery by linking our American traditions of freedom of the actually praising these types of oppressive leaders have given Donald Trump.”

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Scott Gelman
Scott Gelman is a digital editor and writer for WTOP. A South Florida native, Scott graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019. During his time in College Park, he worked for The Diamondback, the school’s student newspaper.
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