Jake Harper
On August 9, 2017, a 30-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a tuft of blond hair appeared near the White House. The chicken, known as Chicken Don, was designed by Seattle resident Casey Laitiolas and purchased by documentary filmmaker Taran Singh Brar to protest against then US President Donald Trump's refusal to release his tax returns, his relationship with Russia, and his handling of the North Korean situation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 30 feet, some sources say 23 feet or 60 feet |
| Appearance | Golden or bright orange hair, hand gestures |
| Purpose | To criticise the president's behaviour and actions, including his refusal to release his tax returns, his relationship with Putin and his handling of North Korea |
| Creator | Taran Singh Brar, a filmmaker and self-described “chicken tender”, who was inspired by the work of Seattle-based designer Casey Laitiolas/Latiolais |
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What You'll Learn
The chicken's resemblance to Trump
The giant inflatable chicken that appeared behind the White House in 2017 bore a striking resemblance to former US President Donald Trump. The chicken, which stood at 10 feet tall, sported a mane of golden hair, similar to Trump's distinctive swooped hairstyle. The chicken also appeared to be doing hand gestures reminiscent of Trump's signature moves.
The inflatable chicken, dubbed "Chicken Don", was designed by Seattle-based designer Casey Laitiolas. While Laitiolas claimed that the resemblance to Trump was unintentional, others believed it was a clever way to mock the President. The chicken was originally created to usher in the Year of the Rooster and was manufactured in a Chinese factory. However, its resemblance to Trump was undeniable, and it quickly became a symbol of criticism towards the President.
One of the main reasons for the chicken's appearance was to criticize Trump's refusal to release his tax returns. The message conveyed was that the President was too "chicken" to be financially transparent with the American people. This criticism was not new, as the chicken had previously made an appearance during the Tax March protest in April 2017.
The chicken's presence also mocked Trump's perceived lack of strength in dealing with other world leaders, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his handling of tensions with North Korea. Taran Singh Brar, the political activist who purchased the chicken, stated that the display was a form of criticizing the President's behaviour and actions. The chicken served as a visual representation of Trump's "insecure vulgar behaviour", including his desire for a military parade in Washington, DC.
The giant inflatable chicken attracted widespread attention, with crowds flocking to take photos and media outlets capturing iconic shots of the chicken with the White House in the background. The symbolism and impact of the visual stunt were significant, providing a unique and memorable way to convey a message of discontent with the President's actions.
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The chicken's placement near the White House
On August 9, 2017, a giant inflatable chicken with a tuft of blond, swooped hair was placed within eyesight of the White House. The chicken, designed by Seattle resident Casey Latiolais, originally manufactured at a Chinese factory to usher in the Year of the Rooster, bore a striking resemblance to the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump. The chicken was placed on a grassy area behind 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, attracting large crowds who came to see and take photos of the unusual display.
The chicken, dubbed "Chicken Don", was the brainchild of Seattle-based designer Casey Laitiolas. It first started making appearances in the spring of 2017 to bring attention to President Trump's refusal to release his tax returns and what organizers perceived as general chicken-like behavior. Taran Singh Brar, a filmmaker and self-described "chicken tender", was also involved in organizing the chicken's appearances in Washington D.C. Brar stated that the chicken was a form of criticizing the president's behavior and actions, and that an image can be a very effective way of getting a message across.
The inflatable chicken stood at either 23 feet or 30 feet tall and was reportedly purchased by Taran Singh Brar from a Chinese online shopping platform for $1,300. Brar obtained all the necessary permits for the installation from the National Parks Service and the Secret Service. The chicken's appearance near the White House drew a lot of attention, with many jokes and snarky comments made on social media about the bizarre situation.
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The chicken's original purpose
The giant inflatable chicken that appeared outside the White House in 2017 was designed to criticise the then US president, Donald Trump. The chicken, which stood at 23 to 30 feet tall, had bright orange or golden hair in a similar style to Trump's and was meant to symbolise Trump's refusal to release his tax returns, his alleged weakness in foreign policy, and his general "chicken-like behaviour" more generally.
The inflatable chicken was the brainchild of Seattle-based designer Casey Laitiolas, who was originally commissioned to produce something rooster-like for the Chinese zodiac animal of that year. However, the chicken's resemblance to Trump was noted by many, and it soon took on a life of its own as a symbol of protest against the president. Taran Singh Brar, a filmmaker and self-described "chicken tender", was responsible for organising the chicken's appearances in Washington, D.C., including obtaining the necessary permits and planning.
The chicken's appearance near the White House quickly drew crowds who flocked to take photos, and it soon became a media sensation, with news outlets such as CNN, ABC, and NBC capturing iconic shots of the chicken with the White House in the background. The chicken's presence in Washington, D.C., was part of a larger movement to call out Trump's behaviour and hold him accountable to the American people.
Beyond its initial impact, the inflatable chicken also inspired a range of miniature trinkets and inflatable imitations that became available on Chinese online shopping platforms. The Trump chicken balloons, ranging from six to over 33 feet tall, sold for between $75 and $750, with Brar claiming he purchased his own "Chicken Don" for $1,300. The popularity of these imitations further cemented the impact of the original inflatable chicken and its role in shaping public discourse around Trump's presidency.
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The chicken's creator
The creator of the giant inflatable chicken that appeared near the White House in 2017 is Taran Singh Brar, a documentary filmmaker and self-described "chicken tender". Brar is also an activist who has been critical of former US President Donald Trump's behaviour and actions.
The chicken, which stood at 23 to 30 feet tall, was designed to resemble Trump with its blond mane and hand gestures. It was originally manufactured at a Chinese factory to usher in the Year of the Rooster, designed by Seattle resident Casey Latiolais. However, Brar purchased the inflatable chicken specifically to criticise Trump, accusing him of being "weak and ineffective" as a leader and "playing chicken with North Korea".
Brar's intention was to create a visual protest that would be more impactful than traditional forms of criticism, such as posting on social media. He believed that the image of the chicken effectively portrayed Trump as being afraid to release his tax returns and stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The inflatable chicken made headlines and drew crowds who flocked to take photos, demonstrating the power of visual symbolism in political criticism. Brar's stunt also led to the creation of miniature trinkets and inflatable imitations, with Trump chicken balloons becoming available for purchase online.
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The chicken's impact on social media
On August 9, 2017, a giant inflatable chicken with a tuft of blond, swooped hair appeared behind the White House. The chicken, designed by Seattle resident Casey Latiolais, originally manufactured at a Chinese factory to usher in the Year of the Rooster, bore a striking resemblance to former US President Donald Trump. The chicken was set up within eyesight of the White House, tethered to the ground, swaying slightly with the wind. The chicken's appearance drew the attention of crowds who flocked to the scene to take photos.
The chicken's resemblance to Trump was deemed coincidental and unintended by its designer, Latiolais, who initially created it as an attraction in Chinese shopping malls to celebrate the new year. However, the chicken was soon associated with criticisms of Trump's behaviour and actions. The chicken was interpreted as a symbol of Trump's refusal to release his tax returns, his perceived lack of strength in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his handling of tensions with North Korea. The inflatable chicken was also seen as a critique of Trump's desire for a military parade in Washington, DC.
The appearance of the chicken sparked a range of reactions on social media. Some people commented on the chicken's resemblance to Trump, while others saw it as a form of political criticism or satire. The chicken's presence near the White House added to its impact, with some suggesting that it was chosen as a symbol due to the association of chickens with cowardice. The chicken's visual impact was enhanced by its proximity to iconic landmarks such as the White House and the Washington Monument, providing a striking backdrop for photographs that quickly spread on social media.
The chicken's appearance sparked conversations about the effectiveness of visual satire and criticism. Taran Singh Brar, a political activist who was involved in bringing the chicken to Washington, stated that visuals can be a powerful way to criticise the president's behaviour and break through the overwhelming amount of information in the news. The chicken's impact extended beyond its physical presence, as it inspired discussions about the role of imagery in political discourse and the limitations of traditional media in capturing the public's attention.
Overall, the inflatable chicken's appearance near the White House had a significant impact on social media. It generated conversations about Trump's policies and behaviour, the effectiveness of visual satire, and the power of imagery in political discourse. The chicken's resemblance to Trump, its strategic placement near the White House, and the subsequent photographic evidence shared on social media platforms all contributed to its lasting impression on the public discourse surrounding the Trump administration.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, on August 9, 2017, a massive 10-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a mane of golden hair appeared behind the White House.
The chicken was designed by Seattle resident Casey Latiolais and was originally manufactured at a Chinese factory to usher in the Year of the Rooster. Taran Singh Brar, a filmmaker and self-described “chicken tender”, was responsible for organizing the chicken's appearances in DC.
The inflatable chicken, named Chicken Don, was meant to criticize President Trump's behaviour and actions. It was intended to portray Trump as "chicken" and too afraid to release his tax returns, stand up to Putin, and play a game of chicken with North Korea.
