Trump as demon idol steals spotlight at Bengal puja pandal amid trade dispute

A Durga Puja committee in Baharampur, West Bengal, has stirred widespread attention by unveiling a demon idol modeled after U.S. President Donald Trump. The Khagra Crematorium Ghat Durga Puja Committee said the unusual depiction symbolizes resentment over U.S. trade tariffs that they believe have hurt Indian interests.

The installation, sculpted by artist Asim Pal, was inaugurated by Baharampur Municipality Mayor Naru Gopal Mukherjee and has quickly become a focal point for visitors. The demon figure, traditionally representing evil in the Durga Puja tableau, was given Trump’s likeness to highlight what the organizers described as a sense of betrayal in U.S.-India relations.

Committee member Pratik explained that the idol is a symbolic protest against Washington’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods. “We created this idol in response to the tariff he imposed. We see him as a demon because he betrayed India behind its back,” he said.

The Puja theme reflects growing discontent with U.S. trade policies under Trump’s leadership. Organizers argued that while relations between the two nations were outwardly friendly, the tariff measures dealt a blow to India’s economy, and the demon idol is a way of expressing local frustration through cultural art.

The bold representation has sparked lively discussions, drawing crowds and generating debate on social media. It also reflects how international politics and economic disputes often find resonance in local cultural expressions.

Observers noted that this is not the first time Trump has appeared in Indian symbolic contexts. In 2018, a temple dedicated to him was built in Telangana, portraying him as a figure of goodwill. This year, however, the portrayal is far more critical, positioning him as the adversary in the narrative of Durga’s triumph over evil.