A 22-foot golden statue of US President Donald Trump is set to be erected at Trump National Doral in Miami, where world leaders will gather for this year's G20 summit. The statue, funded by cryptocurrency enthusiasts, is part of a project called “Don Colossus” aimed at promoting their memecoin, $PATRIOT.
The bronze statue, sculpted by Ohio artist Alan Cottrill, depicts Trump with his fist raised, based on an image from July 2024 after an assassination attempt. The crypto backers requested alterations to make the nearly 80-year-old president appear thinner, according to Cottrill.
However, the statue is currently held at Cottrill's foundry due to a payment dispute. The artist claims he is owed $90,000 of the $150,000 agreed fee, and says the backers unlawfully used his work to market their now-crashed memecoin. One of the commissioners, Ashley Sansalone, stated that payment would be made in full before the statue's unveiling.
The White House has said it is not involved in the crypto project or statue, but confirmed that Trump National Doral will host the G20 summit “at cost,” with no profit to the Trump Organization. The summit's agenda, organized by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, will focus on deregulation, affordable energy, and new technologies.
