On October 20, 2026, a live performance art installation featuring an impersonator of U.S. President Donald Trump in a mock jail cell appeared in Tehran's Tajrish Square. The "3D art installation," described as a "billboard-like" structure, drew significant local and international attention, with reports on October 21 and 22, 2026. This display is part of a state-backed propaganda effort by Iran during ongoing tensions and conflict with the United States and Israel.

This public art piece serves as a potent tool for Iranian state-backed propaganda, aiming to symbolize accountability for alleged U.S. actions and to fuel anti-U.S. sentiment. The installation directly links the depiction of Trump behind bars with broader Iranian grievances concerning U.S. military actions, making it a visible statement in the ongoing conflict.

What the records show

The installation is located in Tajrish Square, an upscale neighborhood in northern Tehran. It features a life-size prison cell suspended several stories high over traffic. Inside, an actor wears a prosthetic mask resembling Donald Trump, a dark suit, and a red tie, pacing or clutching the bars. The display carries the slogan, "It is a crime not to see this scene". Tehran's municipal authorities are behind the campaign, and media outlets close to Iranian authorities have stated the installation will operate continuously, day and night, seven days a week. Screens positioned near the mock jail cell display messages denouncing U.S. "war crimes".

The timeline

The live performance art installation debuted on October 20, 2026, and received widespread media coverage on October 21 and 22, 2026. The broader conflict with the United States and Israel began in February 2026 with American and Israeli strikes. Since the conflict began, Iran has consistently portrayed Trump as a "war criminal" and called for revenge. A specific grievance highlighted by the installation is a U.S. strike in early September 2026 on a wedding ceremony in Sirik, a southern Iranian town. Iranian state media reported this strike killed two women and two children, and wounded over 60 other individuals.

What changed and for whom

This live performance represents a new approach to Iran's public propaganda tactics, moving beyond static images to an interactive, theatrical display. The installation has drawn significant public interaction, with locals stopping to take selfies with the impersonator. Some passersby hurled abuse at the faux Trump, while others engaged playfully. Farzaneh Arabzadeh, a 30-year-old Tehran resident, blamed Trump for starting the war by attacking Iran, saying he "had done something that put our people in a worse situation," and expressed a desire for the depicted scenario to become a reality. Conversely, one passerby reportedly told the impersonator, "Don't worry, we'll pay your bail and get you out!". A teenager reportedly shouted, "Trump, this time we're going to kill you!".

What the subject has said publicly

A White House official, in a statement to The Mirror U.S., commented on the U.S. position in the conflict. The official stated, "The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian economy collapsing. Iran has been decimated, and one way or the other, the conflict in Iran will be over very soon. President Trump holds all the cards and will do whatever is best for the United States". The Mirror U.S. article referred to Trump as "the 80-year-old president" in the context of the impersonation. This statement was a general assessment of U.S.-Iran relations, not a direct response to this specific art installation.

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm any direct public statement from Donald Trump or his administration specifically addressing this art installation in Tehran. The evidence provided a general statement from a White House official regarding the broader conflict, not the installation itself.