A towering gold statue of Donald Trump has been unveiled at his golf course in Doral, Florida, during a ceremony led by an Evangelical pastor. The 22-foot colossus depicts the president with his fist raised, echoing his gesture after surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
Pastor Mark Burns, a member of Pastors for Trump, presided over the dedication on Wednesday. The statue was draped in blue and white fabric resembling a Greek toga. Burns emphasised that the gilded effigy was not a false idol, calling it a symbol of resilience, freedom, and patriotism.
During the ceremony, Burns played a phone call from Trump, who thanked the pastor and said the statue was "done from love." The sculpture, commissioned by a group of crypto investors, was created by sculptor Alan Cottrill for $300,000. The investors funded a gold leaf coating, and the statue is intended to promote their memecoin, $PATRIOT.
Cottrill had previously complained about slow payment, but the investors stated the statue was paid in full a year ago. This is not the first controversial Trump statue; others have appeared near the Capitol, including one alongside Jeffrey Epstein, which were quickly removed.
