HOLLYWOOD, CA—Political activism or lawless vandalism? The debate rages on after an unidentified individual smashed Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame star with a sledgehammer earlier this week.

Luckily, no matter how you feel about that, a quick check reveals that the frowning, mummified gerbil accompanied by a plaque touting the achievements of Trump's running mate Mike Pence has not been the target of any damage.

The gerbil, chosen for its resemblance to the erstwhile Indiana governor in both its pained visage and its inability to ever change from its current state, is housed at Bischoff's Taxidermy in Los Angeles, several blocks away from the Walk of Fame's central location.

"We have also been reliably informed that the tumbleweed named in honour of Mr. Pence in his home city of Columbus is absolutely fine," said Jim Pelswith, a spokesperson for the Walk of Fame. "It is only Mr. Trump's square that has been affected at all. Neither the gerbil nor the tumbleweed has been damaged."

"Nor has Pence's "Valued Lawnmower User" poster at Henry's Hardware in Lubbock, Texas been in any way been affected by this inflammatory act," continued the spokesperson.

Unprompted, he then went on to described how the gerbil's fossilized nature makes it take on an almost angry expression, completely atypical of a rodent, which is apparently what sort of animal a gerbil is; he really had an awful lot of information we weren't expecting.

Asked whether he feels any worry for the safety of the rodent-based artefact after the week's distressing events, Pelswith reassures us that it will be afforded more protection than usual, as will the panel of the Ark of the Covenant at the Vatican that for some reason or other depicts an illustration of Pence surrounded by winged devils and fire.