madame tussauds
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Former President Donald Trump was historically unpopular, with his average approval rating never rising above 50 percent. That national dislike took a toll on his likeness at a Texas wax museum recently.
Randy Diamond of the San-Antonio Express News reported that Louis Tussaud's Waxworks in San Antonio, Texas—a branch of Ripley Entertainment—was forced to tuck away the wax replica of the 45th President after visitors kept punching, scratching, and otherwise defacing it.
The Trump figure—posed between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un—saw escalating attacks as the 2020 election heated up, and especially after Trump's lies about his loss in that election prompted a mob of pro-Trump extremists to storm the United States Capitol.
Clay Stewart, Ripley's regional manager—said of the attacks:
"When it's a highly political figure, attacks can be a problem."
Museum staff initially moved the figure to the front lobby in hopes that it would have more constant security, but according to Stewart, too many visitors couldn't resist the chance to punch the likeness of the former President.
Sadly, that was something all too many could relate to.
Confess, the temptation would likely have been too great for me, as well. How satisfying it would be. https://t.co/9iO7ZdE0WE— Mona Davidson (@Mona Davidson) 1616254569.0
Hahahaha. I can't say i wouldn't do the same. https://t.co/DfebSx5CH7— Oscar the girl bird resists🌏🌈🌊⚛ (@Oscar the girl bird resists🌏🌈🌊⚛) 1616252367.0
To be fair... I doubt I could resist the urge after the last 4 years. https://t.co/mkheGthinV— JadedB (@JadedB) 1616259034.0
I would too...punch it. https://t.co/1L4RAFpb8s— Judy Williams (@Judy Williams) 1616248850.0
Some even suggested charging Trump's most impassioned critics to punch the figure, raising money to undo the damage of the actual Trump.
Why can’t “he” travel around and people can pay to punch? Then use those proceeds to fight voter suppression in tha… https://t.co/1PJO8ty189— Clarisse Holman 🌍 (@Clarisse Holman 🌍) 1616258528.0
They should have had people pay for the privilege with all proceeds going to the babies he snatched from parents at… https://t.co/Hua5NHadsV— Nafisa Haji (@Nafisa Haji) 1616250852.0
You could raise a lot of money for Covid Relief dragging a punch-me Trump doll around on a cart & charge a buck a p… https://t.co/QW3uxiRgMC— Pamela P😷😷😷 (@Pamela P😷😷😷) 1616248550.0
Tbh, if they charged $1 per person and let ppl punch the figure they cd probably raise enough money to send 50 kids… https://t.co/K8nyCEj9ro— DinkyShop (@DinkyShop) 1616250104.0
@kylegriffin1 They missed a real money making opportunity! They could have charged $5/punch.— Jules Jay (@Jules Jay) 1616255475.0
It's unclear if the Trump figure will be reinstated after national tensions ease.