New York’s Public Theater is refusing to apologise for a controversial musical production of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, in which the actor playing the ancient Roman leader resembled US President Donald Trump. Caesar was known for turning a republic into an empire. 

“I can say without embarrassment that I decided to open our summer season with Julius Caesar on November 9, 2016,” Oskar Eustis, Public Theater director, told Playbill. “At this particular historical moment, it feels extremely fruitful to look at that historical moment from 2,000 years ago and to try to understand ourselves through that lens.” 

The controversial play was on play last weekend in Central Park and will stay on stage until June 18.

Two major sponsors have withdrawn funding from the production after raising Trump's son criticism.

The Public theater published a public statement to defend its position. 

Before the performance Donald Trump, Jr. asked via a tweet, "I wonder how much of this 'art' is funded by taxpayers?," as reported in Forbes. According to the magazine, the NY Public Teahter received nearly 30 million in public funds since 2009.