Donald Trump baby blimp gets final resting place as it is acquired by Sadiq Khan-funded Museum of London
- Huge inflatable shows US president in a nappy and clutching a mobile phone
- It took to the skies above Parliament Square during protests in June 2018
- Following its global tour the Trump Baby blimp is heading to Museum of London
The Donald Trump baby blimp has found its final resting place after being acquired by the Sadiq Khan-funded Museum of London.
The huge inflatable depicts the US president in a nappy and clutching a mobile phone.
It took to the skies, above Parliament Square, during protests over Mr Trump’s state visit to the UK in June 2018.
The Museum of London announced in the same year that it was in talks to acquire the 20ft orange effigy, for its protest collection.
Now, following its global tour, the Trump Baby blimp is ‘heading to its final resting place,’ at the Museum.
The huge inflatable depicts the US president in a nappy and clutching a mobile phone
It will be conserved and potentially displayed in future years.
The creators of the famous effigy said they hoped it served as a reminder of the fight against the ‘politics of hate’.
‘While we’re pleased that the Trump Baby can now be consigned to history along with the man himself, we’re under no illusions that this is the end of the story,’ they said in a statement to the PA news agency.
‘We hope the baby’s place in the museum will stand as a reminder of when London stood against Mr Trump – but will prompt those who see it to examine how they can continue the fight against the politics of hate.
‘Most of all we hope the Trump Baby serves as a reminder of the politics of resistance that took place during Trump’s time in office.’
Sharon Ament, the museum’s director, said it became ‘determined’ to acquire the object in 2018.
It took to the skies, above Parliament Square, during protests over Mr Trump’s state visit to the UK in June 2018
‘We did not know then what would transpire,’ she told PA.
‘Of course the museum is not political and does not have any view about the state of politics in the States.’
But the blimp touches on a typical British response, satire, she added.
‘We use humour a lot. And we poke fun at politicians. This is a big – literally – example of that….
‘To some it’s a joyous object, it makes you smile, it makes you laugh because it’s satirical.’
The balloon-like object has just arrived at the Museum, ‘squashed’ in a suitcase.
The Museum of London announced in the same year that it was in talks to acquire the 20ft orange effigy, for its protest collection
‘The most ironic and fitting thing now is it’s currently in quarantine in the museum,’ Ms Ament said.
‘All objects have to be put into quarantine before they go into the collection because they could have insects or with something like clothing… moths.’
The conservation team will work to make sure the object lasts for future generations.
‘This is seven metres tall, there is nothing like it in our collections at all. It’s a massive challenge,’ she said.
The Museum is a fitting home as the effigy is ‘a response from Londoners,’ she said.
‘It was born in London… It was an extraordinary and imaginative idea.’
And she added: ‘It is timely because it’s coming to us in the final days of President Trump being President Trump.’
The makers of the blimp said: ‘This large inflatable was just a tiny part of a global movement – a movement that was led by the marginalised people whose Trump’s politics most endangered – and whose role in this moment should never be underestimated.’