State Department deputy halts U.S. bull sculpture over concerns it resembles Baal

Deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau halted the inclusion of a golden bull sculpture in the U.S. pavilion for the 2027 Expo in Belgrade, citing its resemblance to the ancient Near Eastern god Baal, which some associate with child sacrifice. Department insiders described his focus on the issue as disproportionate and noted his frequent social-media activity. The artwork was designed as an homage to the American West, and its removal prompted amused reactions from colleagues.

In an internal email, Landau compared the bull imagery to the biblical golden calf and modern financial idol worship. The controversy emerges amid recent Iranian protests that burned bull effigies bearing the likenesses of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, some marked with the number “666.” Landau has previously clashed with Trump-appointed Special Representative for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli, a known Trump ally.