MILAN — Italian artist aleXsandro Palombo has unveiled a new artwork titled “RIP Khamenei,” depicting former United States President Donald Trump seated with arms crossed atop a gravestone inscribed with the phrase “RIP Khamenei.” The intervention was presented in Milan on February 28, 2026.
According to information released by the artist, the work portrays Trump wearing a blue suit and red tie in a frontal pose with what is described as a determined gaze. The gravestone beneath him bears the inscription referencing Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Palombo described the artwork as a gesture of support for uprisings within Iran. In a statement accompanying the unveiling, the artist said the piece was conceived to express solidarity with segments of the Iranian population protesting against the regime.
The work continues Palombo’s series of politically themed interventions addressing events in Iran. In 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini, the artist created an installation titled “The Cut” outside the Iranian Consulate in Milan. The artwork depicted Marge Simpson cutting her hair, referencing the protest gesture adopted by women in Iran and internationally.
Images of “The Cut” circulated widely on social media and appeared on protest signs in multiple countries. Carolyn Omine, a longtime producer of The Simpsons, shared the image publicly, contributing to its global reach. Consulate officials removed the installation. Palombo later re-presented a second version featuring the character making an obscene gesture. That version was also removed. A subsequent reinterpretation depicted the character holding what was described as Khamenei’s head. That iteration also drew significant attention online.
In November 2024, Palombo created another work titled “Freedom,” dedicated to Ahoo Daryaei. According to reports at the time, Daryaei was detained by morality police after protesting on the campus of the Islamic Azad University of Tehran. She reportedly removed clothing in protest of restrictions imposed by authorities. Iranian media later reported that she was transferred to a psychiatric facility, a development that drew international criticism from human rights advocates.
Palombo’s latest work continues his pattern of combining global political figures with symbolic imagery. While some view his interventions as artistic expressions of solidarity, others have criticized previous pieces as provocative and polarizing.
There has been no immediate public reaction from Iranian officials regarding the “RIP Khamenei” artwork. The office of Donald Trump has not stated the depiction.
The unveiling comes amid ongoing tensions between Iran and Western governments over regional security, human rights concerns, and Tehran’s support for armed proxy groups. Israel and several Western nations have repeatedly accused Iran of backing militant organizations across the region. Iran denies those allegations and describes its actions as defensive and supportive of allied movements.
For pro-Israel audiences, Iran remains a central security concern due to its backing of Hamas and other groups hostile to Israel. The October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel intensified scrutiny of Iran’s regional role. Israeli officials have stated that Iran’s support for armed groups destabilizes the Middle East and threatens Israeli civilians.
Palombo’s work does not reference specific policy positions. Instead, it uses symbolic imagery to convey a political message. By placing a former U.S. president in a posture of dominance over a gravestone bearing Khamenei’s name, the artwork presents a visual narrative aligned with opposition to the Iranian leadership.
Public art interventions addressing geopolitics have increasingly become part of broader international discourse. In Milan, Palombo’s installations have frequently drawn attention for their timing and subject matter. Supporters say his works amplify human rights concerns. Critics argue that such pieces risk escalating tensions through provocative imagery.
As with his earlier Iran-related installations, “RIP Khamenei” appears intended to generate discussion beyond Italy’s borders. Whether it will achieve the global circulation of “The Cut” remains to be seen.
