Trump Defends Giant Golden Statue of Himself Amid Much Debate

Trump defended a 22-foot golden statue of himself erected at Trump National Doral Miami, commissioned by the $PATRIOT cryptocurrency group and unveiled in May 2026. Trump stated the statue, dubbed “Don Colossus” and covered in gold leaf, was created by “a large group of political supporters” and predicted it would “become a landmark,” while praising those involved as “great American patriots.”

Pastor Mark Burns, a spiritual adviser to Trump who led the dedication ceremony, issued a lengthy statement defending the installation after critics compared it to the biblical golden calf and accused supporters of idolatry. Burns asserted the statue represented “patriotism,” not worship, stating “We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone” while arguing critics were “in gross error” if they believed the statue constituted idol worship.

Late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart mocked the golden display, with Colbert describing it as “some recreational idolatry.” The statue was commissioned in August 2024 by sculptor Alan Cottrill following the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, with the design referencing Trump’s fist-raised gesture to the crowd after the shooting. The original plan called for unveiling during Trump’s inauguration, but reported internal disputes delayed its release.

The golden statue represents part of a broader pattern of Trump’s personal brand permeating government spaces and commercial products since his return to the White House, including Trump’s use of government resources for personal benefit, limited-edition passports, commemorative coins, and banners adorning federal buildings. This pattern mirrors House Republicans funding Trump’s Doral resort through their three-day retreat, further blending his personal commercial interests with political operations.

Critics have also installed counter-statues on the National Mall, including a bronze sculpture depicting Trump holding hands with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a Titanic-themed pose that appeared in late 2025, and a gold-painted replica in March 2026 showing Trump embracing Epstein with outstretched arms. These installations emerged amid renewed calls for full release o(Source: https://time.com/article/2026/05/15/trump-gold-statue-controversy-comments-history/)f the Epstein files and renewed scrutiny of Trump’s former relationship with the disgraced financier.