Republicans Unveil Donald Trump Statue As 2020 Election Campaign Begins, Praise President's 'Accountability and Transparency'

Republican Party supporters in Oklahoma marked the official start of President Donald Trump's 2020 election campaign by unveiling a statue of the divisive leader, named "The President Who Loved America."

The Oklahoma branch of the GOP unveiled the statue during an event at the state party's headquarters in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, according to local station Koco 5 News.

The sculpture was made by Oklahoma artist Brenda Angel, who attended the grand reveal of the likeness. It was unveiled by Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, who said it was "an honor" to be present.

"It is an honor to support President Trump," Byrd said. "He delivers on his promises. President Trump loves this country and its people, and it is evident by his accountability and transparency."

"He led the biggest tax and regulations cuts on businesses since the late '80s," Byrd continued. "Trump delivers on expectations, and I look forward to what he will accomplish in the next four years."

Angel also thanked those present for "coming out and supporting President Trump and being here with me while I honor him with this sculpture." Angel—whose Twitter profile describes her as a "missionary to the generations of the future"—said she had been sculpting Trump since he announced his run for the Oval Office.

Angel began sculpting in 1993 after dreaming she was witnessing the crucifixion of Jesus, KTUL ABC 8 reported. "When I'd wake up I'd hear, 'Sculpt what you just saw,'" she explained. Other examples of her work include a depiction of Jesus's death, a representation of the Statue of Liberty riding a horse to mark America's response to 9/11, and a bust of President Ronald Reagan.

But the artist said the clay used in her Trump project exhibited unusual characteristics. "I use water base clay like you use on a potter's wheel," she explained. "It dries up in days, even weeks, even when you're spritzing it. The clay never went dry. It never cracked. It never got unusable."

"It's amazed me," she continued. "I've never had a piece of wet clay not dry out in five years." According to KTUL, Angel suggested the clay never drying could symbolize that the president's work is not yet done. "I'm personally happy with what he's done and what he's doing. Being president is a hard job for any of them," Angel said.

In a press release from Tuesday's event, Oklahoma GOP Chairman David McLain said he was "excited" about Trump's 2020 announcement. "The promises he made were the promises he kept," McLain said. "His strong leadership with proven global security and economic success has led to peace and prosperity. Oklahomans are eager to support their President."

But the tone of Trump's 2020 launch was somewhat less positive. The president's speech at his rally in Orlando, Florida, was peppered with misinformation about his Democratic opponents, vilification of the media and attacks former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.