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Credit: DisneyJust days after Disney removed a weather vane sculpture that drew comparisons to Donald Trump, the figure is back—this time with a haircut.
Guests visiting Disneyland Resort today noticed the Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse topper had returned to its spot atop the 70th Anniversary Sleeping Beauty Castle display in the esplanade between the parks. But this isn’t the same version that sparked outrage online over the weekend.
Disney has quietly altered the sculpture, trimming down the infamous swooping hair that originally led fans to say it looked more like the 45th President than the founder of the company.
A Clean-Up Without a Comment
Disney has still not issued any public statement about the removal—or reinstallation—of the sculpture. But for many fans who saw the viral images last week, the difference is noticeable. The exaggerated hair, which once curved over the forehead in a way that mimicked Trump’s signature style, is now shortened and flatter, more in line with Walt Disney’s real-life appearance.
One parkgoer wrote on social media, “It’s back—and it finally looks like Walt. That hair fix was doing a lot of heavy lifting.”
Another joked, “The Trump wig is gone. They patched it.”
Matt Desmond shared the update on X, “They fixed Walt in the Disneyland esplanade!”
They fixed Walt in the Disneyland esplanade! https://t.co/tkHnKybBjx pic.twitter.com/myWcLEB4Af
— Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) May 13, 2025
A Larger Political Storm
While the incident may seem like a one-off mishap in design, it comes at a time of serious tension between The Walt Disney Company and President Trump. Since his return to the White House, Trump’s administration has targeted Disney in multiple ways, including ongoing investigations by the Department of Justice and FCC into the company’s media holdings and alleged antitrust behavior.
Trump has also taken shots at Disney in speeches and social posts, accusing the company of pushing a “woke agenda” and claiming it’s “not the same Disney Walt built.” The feud dates back years—sparked in part by Disney’s response to Florida legislation—but has escalated significantly since Trump returned to power.
For a company deeply focused on maintaining its brand image, the idea of accidentally portraying Trump—especially during its most nostalgia-heavy celebration in years—was a risk Disney couldn’t afford.
Damage Control Mode?
The rapid removal, overnight haircut, and reinstallation of the sculpture suggests Disney wanted to fix the issue quickly without drawing further attention. But for many fans, the entire saga has raised questions about how such a glaring design issue slipped through the company’s famously tight creative controls.
With the official 70th anniversary festivities launching May 16, Disney seems eager to move past the distraction and steer the celebration back to safer ground—highlighting legacy, nostalgia, and Walt’s vision, not a political doppelgänger.
Still, the episode serves as a strange and very public reminder of how even small visual details can become lightning rods—especially when a decades-old icon ends up looking like one of the most divisive figures in modern American politics.