Sophie Bennett
In August 2017, a 30-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a striking resemblance to Donald Trump appeared on the White House lawn. The chicken, with its orange hair and angry scowl, was the brainchild of documentary filmmaker Taran Singh Brar, who intended it as a visual protest against Trump's leadership. Brar strategically placed the chicken, which cost him $1300, so it would be visible to news cameras, and it quickly became a social media sensation. The Trump chicken made its debut after a similar sculpture was displayed in a Chinese mall to celebrate the Year of the Rooster.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 9 August 2017 |
| Height | 23-30 feet |
| Artist | Taran Singh Brar |
| Designer | Seattle-based artist Casey Latiolais |
| Cost | $1300-1500 |
| Reason | Protest against Trump's leadership and his failure to release tax returns |
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What You'll Learn
The chicken was a protest against Trump's leadership
In 2017, a 30-foot-tall inflatable chicken with an uncanny resemblance to Donald Trump was placed on the White House lawn. The chicken, with its bright orange hair and scowl, was designed to be visible to news cameras placed on the White House, which often use the shots as backdrops during interview segments. The chicken was the brainchild of Taran Singh Brar, a documentary filmmaker from Orange County, California, who saw it as a protest against Trump's weak and ineffective leadership.
Brar had been planning the protest since March, obtaining the necessary permits from the National Park Service and the Secret Service. He strategically placed the chicken on the Ellipse, a park just south of the White House, to call attention to Trump's leadership style, particularly his stance towards Vladimir Putin and what Brar viewed as a "game of chicken" with North Korea.
The "Trump chicken," as it came to be known, first made headlines in China, where it was created to celebrate the Year of the Rooster in 2017. It stood outside a mall in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province, and soon proliferated across China. The design also appeared at protests demanding Trump release his tax returns, with protesters adopting the chicken as a symbol of their cause, as they viewed Trump as "too chicken" to do so.
The White House chicken caused a mix of reactions, from widespread laughter to concern. While some saw it as a clever protest, others were simply puzzled by the giant inflatable chicken looming over the White House. Brar embraced the obvious similarity between the chicken and Trump, using it as a powerful visual statement to express his criticism of the President's leadership.
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The chicken was designed to resemble Trump
The chicken was designed to bear a distinct resemblance to Trump, with an angry scowl and a golden thatch of hair. The 30-foot-tall inflatable chicken was the brainchild of Taran Singh Brar, a documentary filmmaker from Orange County, California, who intended it as a protest against Trump's leadership. Brar wanted to highlight Trump's "game of chicken" rhetoric toward North Korea and his failure to stand up to Vladimir Putin.
The chicken was strategically placed so it would be visible to news cameras positioned on the White House. Brar obtained permits from the National Park Service and the Secret Service to install the balloon on the Ellipse, a park directly behind the White House. The "Trump chicken" had made its debut earlier in a mall in Taiyuan, China, to celebrate the Year of the Rooster in 2017. Inflatable versions soon became popular across China.
The Seattle-based illustrator and animator Casey Latiolais, who created the original fiberglass version, has been coy about the artwork's Trumpian features. However, Brar has embraced the obvious similarity, stating that he bought it for $1300 as a visual protest. The chicken's bright orange hair and small wings are an unmistakable reference to Trump's unique physical characteristics.
The chicken's presence near the White House sparked widespread laughter and became a social media sensation. It served as a creative and light-hearted way to draw attention to serious political issues and express dissatisfaction with Trump's presidency. The "Trump chicken" has since become a symbol of protest, with its image and likeness being used in various demonstrations against the former president.
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The chicken was placed in view of news cameras
The chicken bore a distinct resemblance to Trump, with an angry scowl and a golden thatch of hair. It was a 30-foot-tall inflatable chicken, designed by Seattle-based illustrator and animator Casey Latiolais. Latiolais had previously created a fibreglass version of the chicken to go on display outside a Chinese shopping mall to celebrate the Year of the Rooster in 2017. Inflatable versions soon proliferated around China, and Brar bought one for $1300 (although another source states $1500) to use in his protest.
The "Trump chicken" made its public debut in front of the White House in August 2017, although it had appeared elsewhere earlier that year, including at a protest in April demanding that Trump release his tax returns. Brar said that in the past few days, the chicken had gained another meaning, referring to Trump's "game of chicken" rhetoric toward North Korea.
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The chicken was created by Taran Singh Brar
The chicken on the White House lawn was created by Taran Singh Brar, a documentary filmmaker from Orange County, California. Brar strategically placed the 30-foot-tall inflatable chicken, which bore a distinct resemblance to then-President Donald Trump, so it would be visible to news cameras positioned on the White House. The shots were often used as backdrops during interview segments. Brar had been planning the protest since March and had made several trips to Washington, DC, to secure permits from the National Park Service and the Secret Service.
The "Trump chicken" was designed by Seattle-based illustrator and animator Casey Latiolais, who was commissioned to create a fiberglass version for display in China to celebrate the Year of the Rooster in 2017. Inflatable versions soon became popular in China, and Brar purchased one for $1,300 (although another source states $1,500) to use as a form of visual protest against Trump. Brar stated that his protest was against Trump's ineffective leadership, including his stance towards Vladimir Putin, and his "game of chicken" rhetoric towards North Korea.
The chicken made its debut in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, and was installed on the Ellipse, a park just south of the White House. The display sparked widespread laughter, and Brar was quoted in USA Today, saying:
> "Trump is too chicken to release his tax returns, to stand up to Putin."
The chicken also made an appearance during a Fox News segment, where the Associated Press' Josh Lederman commented:
> "Shep, it appears to be a very large chicken display."
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The chicken was originally made in China
The giant inflatable chicken that appeared on the White House lawn in 2017, standing at over 10 feet tall, has an interesting origin story. While it captured the attention of media and the public, sparking a lot of humor and political commentary, its creation and purpose are linked to China. This chicken was, in fact, manufactured in China.
The artist behind this unique protest symbol, Casey Lurie, sourced the inflatable chicken directly from a Chinese factory. Lurie placed an order with a factory in Guangzhou, China, that specialized in creating large, custom inflatables. This factory, like many in the region, had the expertise and infrastructure to produce such unique items. China has become a global hub for manufacturing, with specific regions known for certain products, and Guangzhou is particularly known for its inflatables.
Lurie's order was a custom design, a giant chicken with a distinctive angry expression, bright orange plumage, and a distinct hairstyle. This design was a playful yet critical reference to President Trump, with the hairstyle an obvious nod to his famous comb-over. Chinese factories often work from such specific custom designs, and this one was no exception. The factory would have received the order, likely via an online platform, and set about creating the giant chicken to the buyer's specifications.
China's manufacturing prowess and ability to produce unique, custom items at a relatively low cost and with quick turnaround times made it an obvious choice for Lurie's protest prop. The country's manufacturing sector is renowned for its speed and efficiency, and this particular prop was no doubt produced quickly and shipped internationally to the buyer. This giant chicken is a testament to the reach of Chinese manufacturing and how it can be utilized for unique and unexpected purposes on a global scale.
So, the White House chicken, which sparked a lot of media interest and became an iconic protest symbol, has its roots in Chinese manufacturing. It is an interesting example of how globalized trade is and how artists and activists can utilize international resources to create powerful statements. This chicken's journey began in China and ended up on one of the most famous lawns in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The chicken is a form of protest against former President Donald Trump.
The protest was organised by Taran Singh Brar, a documentary filmmaker from Orange County, California.
The chicken is meant to symbolise Trump's "weak and ineffective leadership", including his stance towards Vladimir Putin and North Korea.
No, although Taran Singh Brar has embraced the similarity between the chicken and Trump, he did not design it. The chicken was designed by Seattle-based illustrator and animator Casey Latiolais.
Yes, the chicken first appeared in China during the 2017 Chinese New Year, which celebrated the Year of the Rooster. Inflatable versions of the chicken soon proliferated across China.
