On Dec. 23, 2025, artisans on Via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples began offering statuettes of former President Donald Trump to include in traditional Neapolitan Nativity scenes. The small figures, modeled with dark suits, red ties and the distinctive yellow coiffure, appeared alongside long-standing celebrity likenesses such as Diego Maradona and Silvio Berlusconi. Shopkeepers and a local archdiocese official said some customers place the Trump figures among the three wise men, blending contemporary public figures into a centuries-old religious craft. The development highlights how local artisans adapt the presepi tradition to current events and client demand.
Key Takeaways
- Timing: The reports are dated Dec. 23, 2025, during the Christmas season in Naples, Italy.
- Location: The figures are appearing on Via San Gregorio Armeno, a street long known for handcrafted presepi.
- Artisan detail: Michele Buonincontro, who founded a presepi studio 32 years ago, displayed multiple Trump statuettes in his workshop.
- Design note: The Trump models are described as wearing dark suits with red ties and a bright yellow hairpiece, echoing the former president’s public image.
- Placement: Some buyers position the Trump figure as one of the three Magi in Nativity displays, according to local craftsmen.
- Local precedent: Celebrity likenesses such as Diego Maradona and Silvio Berlusconi have been perennial bestsellers in Naples presepi for years.
- Religious stance: The Rev. Federico Battaglia, secretary to the archbishop of Naples, indicated he saw no obstacle to including a contemporary figure like Trump in a Nativity setting.
Background
The presepi of Naples are a distinctive Christmas tradition combining religious scenes with vivid portrayals of local life. For generations, families and churches have commissioned hand-carved figures and elaborate miniature sets that depict the birth of Jesus alongside quotidian Neapolitan characters. Via San Gregorio Armeno, in the historic center, is the focal point for artisans who produce and sell these handcrafted pieces year-round.
In recent decades craftsmen have often added contemporary public figures to presepi to reflect current events and popular culture. The likeness of Diego Maradona, who became a city icon after his success with Napoli, and of Silvio Berlusconi, a prominent national political figure, are familiar fixtures in many shops. This blending of sacred narrative and civic identity has become an accepted and commercially successful aspect of the local craft economy.
Main Event
This Christmas season, workshops and storefronts along Via San Gregorio Armeno began displaying figurines modeled after Donald Trump. In one studio, rows of small Trump statuettes were arranged near traditional shepherds and angels, signaling that artisans expected demand. The figures emphasize recognizable attributes tied to the former president, and some buyers seek them specifically as a topical novelty for private or public scenes.
Michele Buonincontro, who has sold presepi for more than three decades, said customers choose such figures for a mix of reasons, from political sympathy to playful commentary. He noted that while he does not claim any religious status for the subject, many buyers associate Trump with religious themes or personal devotion. Other family-run shops, including long-established vendors such as Capuano’s, reported similar interest in politically themed statuettes this season.
At Naples Cathedral, an elaborate Nativity is displayed annually in a chapel near the church front. The Rev. Federico Battaglia, secretary to the archbishop, reviewed the idea of contemporary figures and said they can coexist with devotional displays if presented respectfully. Church officials emphasized that liturgical installations differ from private presepi and that placement and intent matter for ecclesiastical settings.
Analysis & Implications
The introduction of Trump figurines into Neapolitan presepi illustrates how folk religious practices absorb broader cultural and political currents. Presepi function as living cultural texts: artisans and buyers rework them to reflect local identity and international events, creating a visual dialogue between past and present. That dynamic helps sustain the craft economically, as novelty figures often attract tourists and collectors.
Politically themed statuettes can also generate varied public responses, from amusement to controversy. In Naples, the practice of adding famous or notorious personalities is established enough that many residents view it as a local custom rather than a partisan statement. Nonetheless, the presence of politically charged figures in religious tableaux can provoke debate about the boundaries between sacred commemoration and secular commentary.
Economically, the trend supports small workshops that rely on seasonal sales. For artisans who have seen tourist numbers fluctuate in recent years, topical figures offer a sales boost and social media attention. International visitors often photograph and share images of atypical presepi, amplifying demand for bespoke figurines that reference widely recognized public figures.
Comparison & Data
| Figure | Origin | Context in Presepi |
|---|---|---|
| Diego Maradona | Argentina/Local hero | Perennial seller linked to Napoli football legacy |
| Silvio Berlusconi | Italy/Former PM | Longstanding political caricature in shops |
| Donald Trump | United States/Former president | Newly offered; sometimes placed among the Magi |
The table highlights how presepi makers juxtapose globally known personalities with traditional Nativity roles. This season’s introduction of Trump figurines follows an established pattern in which local demand and topicality guide production choices. The practice does not imply uniform public endorsement; instead, it reflects artisan responsiveness to market interest and cultural conversation.
Reactions & Quotes
Local shopkeepers described customer interest that ranges from humorous to sincere, noting that statuettes tied to public figures regularly sell faster than generic characters. Municipal and church representatives emphasized context and intent when discussing suitability for liturgical displays.
‘He is very loved,’ said one veteran artisan describing customer interest in Trump figures, while clarifying that the figures are made to meet demand rather than to canonize anyone.
Michele Buonincontro, Presepi artisan
This comment came after the artisan showed multiple Trump models in his workshop and explained that clients decide where to place them within their scenes.
‘I see no reason he couldn’t fit in,’ said a diocesan official who reviewed the idea of contemporary figures being part of a Nativity tableau, while stressing differences between private presepi and church installations.
Rev. Federico Battaglia, Secretary to the Archbishop of Naples
The clerical perspective underscored that church-sponsored Nativity displays follow different guidelines than privately owned or commercial presepi.
Unconfirmed
- Wider political impact: There is no verified evidence that the presence of Trump figures materially changed local political behavior or election outcomes.
- Exact sales figures: Reported interest has not been corroborated with sales data from all vendors, so the overall market share of Trump statuettes remains unclear.
- Motivations of buyers: While some buyers cite admiration, others purchase figures as satire or novelty; the precise breakdown of motivations is unverified.
Bottom Line
The arrival of Donald Trump figures in Naples presepi is best read as an extension of a resilient artisanal tradition that absorbs contemporary themes. It underscores how local craftsmen respond to client tastes and global attention, affording small workshops a commercial and cultural lifeline during the holiday season. While the practice highlights the porous line between sacred narrative and popular culture, local church officials stress that intent and setting determine appropriateness in liturgical contexts.
For observers, the trend offers a lens into how communities curate identity and memory through material culture. In the months ahead, the prevalence of politically themed figurines in Naples will be a useful indicator of how artisans and consumers continue to negotiate heritage, commerce and public discourse.
Sources
- The New York Times — news report on presepi and Trump figurines in Naples (journalism).