A massive golden statue of US President Donald Trump, commissioned by cryptocurrency enthusiasts, is at the centre of a payment dispute that has delayed its installation at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami, the venue for this year's G20 summit.
The 15-foot bronze statue, named 'Don Colossus', was funded by a group promoting a memecoin called $PATRIOT. It depicts Trump with his fist raised, based on an image taken after an assassination attempt in July 2024. The statue is covered in gold leaf and stands on a 22-foot pedestal.
Ohio-based sculptor Alan Cottrill, who created the piece, says he is owed $90,000 of the $150,000 agreed fee. He claims the patrons unlawfully used an image of his work to market their memecoin, which has since plummeted in value. 'That statue will not leave my foundry until everything they owe me is paid,' Cottrill told the New York Times.
One of the project's backers, Ashley Sansalone, said Cottrill would be paid in full before the statue is revealed. 'Under any business agreement, there’s always some funds withheld until the finished product is complete,' he said.
The White House has stated it is not involved in the crypto project or the statue, but the Trump administration selected the Trump-owned Doral resort as the G20 venue last September. The resort is hosting the summit 'at cost', according to the White House.
