TRUMP FAN’S
CRACKED IT
A photograph of a Taranaki sign mocking US President Donald Trump fell foul of a group of Americans when it was put on display.
They were so annoyed they smashed it.
The photograph, of a sign reading ‘Trump is President, Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid’, was ripped from its spot and smashed on Tuesday.
The sign, on State Highway 3 between Normanby and New Plymouth, was photographed by Jim Tannock and featured in an exhibition depicting social inequality in the Western World at Marlborough-based Framingham Wines’ Underground gallery.
Framingham Wines’ marketing manager Bridget Glackin said a group of 20 cruise ship tourists had just left the cellar gallery when staff found the photo on the ground.
Glackin said she knew the exhibition would be controversial, but did not expect such a ‘‘passionate’’ response.
‘‘Our cellar door host came up the stairs and said, ‘I think someone’s made a political statement in the cellar’,’’ Glackin said.
‘‘It’s the weirdest thing, they obviously felt extremely strongly about it. It’s not something you would expect in little old Marlborough.’’
Photographer Tannock said he was not surprised someone got offended by the picture.
‘‘The image was never about Trump, but what he stands for, the political elite ... We’re living in a world that’s all about fear.
‘‘We’ve constantly been hearing about problems with Trump’s administration, and this just represents how over-sensitive his supporters are.’’
Tannock and Glackin were still deciding whether or not to report the vandalism to police yesterday.
Tannock did not enjoy seeing his work damaged, but said he was ‘‘quite excited’’ that it had prompted such a reaction.
‘‘Did they wait until everyone was gone, put it carefully on the ground and step on it? Or did they throw it on the ground? I would love to know.’’