EXCLUSIVE: Portland City Council candidate removes anti-Trump statue: ‘It struck a nerve that demanded action’

The Post Millennial can exclusively report that the beheading was done by Portland City Council District 4 candidate Brandon Farley, a right-wing independent videographer and activist known for documenting protests in the city. Farley wanted to take "full credit" for the vandalism and told The Post Millennial in a statement: "When the statue first appeared on my X feed, it struck a nerve that demanded action. This wasn't just another piece of unauthorized art—it represented everything that's wrong in Portland."

An anti-Trump statue was erected in downtown Portland on Oct. 25.

The statue of Trump, dressed in head-to-toe gold and standing atop a plaque, arrived mysteriously on SW 6th Avenue Sunday, right next to a famous decades-old female nude sculpture. The Trump figure was facing the naked female statue, with his right hand molded in a suggestive manner before it was desecrated.

The plaque headline read: "In honor of a lifetime of sexual assault." It followed up with an unfavorable quote from Trump that was captured on a hot mic in 2005, where he discussed how women would throw themselves at him because of his wealth: "I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they just let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything."

Brandon Farley told TPM that he "felt compelled" to desecrate the statue.

Farley, an outspoken conservative, stated that the art installation was a "blatant mischaracterization" of former President Donald Trump, thus he felt "compelled" to take matters into his own hands. While the installation reportedly violated multiple city code regulations, the Portland City Council candidate said the "deeper issue wasn't just about permits and regulations."

"My message was simple: 'Show some respect,'" Farley told The Post Millennial. "The statue's plaque made unfounded allegations about sexual assault—serious claims that have never resulted in any criminal convictions or registry requirements. These baseless accusations not only disrespect the office of the presidency but also damage our political discourse."

"Portland's political landscape remains dominated by left-wing ideology," he continued. "As we approach another election night, there's palpable tension in the air." Farley also highlighted similarities between the Trump statue and the infamous "Demon Elk," which was erected outside the Justice Center during the violent Antifa-BLM riots in 2020. Leftist activists had demolished Portland's famous Elk Statue and transformed it into a demon. He said both the Trump and Demon Elk statues represented "a form of guerilla art designed to provoke rather than unite."

Before issuing an admission of responsibility to TPM, Farley posted a video to his X account, formerly Twitter, that showed him on Sunday chiseling away at the plaque. The Trump parody statue was later ripped apart piece by piece and by Sunday evening, all that remained by 9:30 pm was one golden shoe.

"The city's far-left majority has consistently demonstrated its intolerance for opposing viewpoints, but those of us who value law, order, and respectful political discourse must continue to stand firm," Farley said. "The real battle isn't about a statue - it's about preserving our ability to engage in civil political dialogue without resorting to mockery or violence. As Portland prepares for whatever comes next, we must remember that respect for our democratic institutions transcends party lines."

Trump was found liable by a jury in 2023 for alleged defamation and battery but not rape of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996. The GOP nominee has maintained his innocence and filed for an appeal. Trump did not face any criminal charges in the civil trial and was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million.