We previously reported on Ida Bjerkeskaug’s viral painting depicting Donald Trump taking Elon Musk from behind. Today, NRK reports that the artist is receiving threats and harassment from MAGA supporters.
Graphic designer Ida Bjerkeskaug (40) from Horten has gained widespread attention for her acrylic paintings of powerful figures in recent weeks.
“I’ve received comments like ‘She needs to be dealt with,’ ‘That damn “artist”,’ and ‘I hope she burns in hell,’” Bjerkeskaug told NRK.
The painting, titled “Bend Over”, depicts Donald Trump appearing to engage in sexual activity with Elon Musk from behind. A rainbow flag burns in the background. Both men are fully clothed.
On the social platform Reddit, the same painting has been shared in a large forum, where it has received over 150,000 upvotes and nearly 5,000 comments.
Bjerkeskaug herself has received over a hundred reactions via SMS and email. Additionally, she has read hundreds more comments under social media posts where news articles about the painting have been shared.
“I’m absolutely shocked that people think what I painted on a small canvas is worse than what these two men spew out and the politics and ideology they promote,” she told NRK regarding the negative backlash.
“They are angrier at me than at people who want to ban human rights. I don’t understand why they’re more offended by what I painted,” she added.
She emphasizes that she has also received a lot of support and has a strong support system around her.
“But none of us are used to this. We’re a little shocked. When very influential figures start using their platform to criticize me, I have to admit—it does affect me,” she acknowledged.
Financial Newspaper Editor Calls Painting ‘Tasteless and Vulgar’
The Editor-in-Chief of Finansavisen, Trygve Hegnar, wrote an editorial in which he called the painting “as tasteless and vulgar as it gets” and “embarrassing and shameless”.
Bjerkeskaug found both his comments and the subsequent social media reaction overwhelming.
This criticism, however, led her to create a new painting—“David vs. Goliath”, in which she depicts herself using a paintbrush as a shield against Hegnar.
False Reports of Police Investigations
In addition to the extreme comments she has encountered, several users in comment sections have claimed to have reported her to the police for the painting “Bend Over”.
NRK contacted Southeast Police District, which as of January 31 denies having received any reports regarding the painting.
‘It’s Not About Left vs. Right’
Bjerkeskaug insists that her paintings are not about political divides, red vs. blue.
“I painted two people I believe have terrifying views and spread hate. It’s simply satire—just with a different kind of brush.
“I’m not a well-known person, but this is how I’ve always drawn and painted,” she told NRK.
New Painting Features Trump and Musk in a Schoolroom
Bjerkeskaug recently painted “Schooled”, which depicts Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde as a teacher standing in front of a blackboard with Donald Trump and a Hitler-like Elon Musk sitting in the foreground.
Budde was the bishop who, during Trump’s inaugural church service, urged him to show mercy toward several minority groups.
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