Donald Trump took to social media to praise the gold statue commissioned by a group of cryptocurrency investors. He claimed that the statue, now standing outside one of his Florida golf clubs, will become a landmark over time. The statue, however, received mixed reactions, with Pastor Mark Burns, who led a group of religious leaders who dedicated it to the president, responding to the negative backlash surrounding it.
Donald Trump talks about his gold statue
Trump took to Truth Social to share his appreciation for the statue funded by a group of cryptocurrency investors, who aimed to promote a coin called “$PATRIOT” through it. It was sculpted by Ohio-based artist Alan Cottrill. Sharing words of praise towards the investors and sculptor of the statue, he wrote, “This is a statue, now standing at Doral, that was commissioned by a large group of political supporters who just wanted a statue of yours truly. I very much appreciate their support and all that they went through to get it done! They are very good people.”
He further expressed his intention for what this sculpture could become one day. He elaborated, “Those playing the Blue Monster, at Doral, are absolutely in love with it. Congratulations to all involved. With time, it will become a Landmark!” Since the statue was revealed, it has received criticism from some people, who claimed that it went against Christian faith. They also suggested that it reminded them of the worship of the golden calf.
He quickly addressed the negative reception on X (formerly Twitter). He stated that he had the “one of the greatest honors of my life” to dedicate the statue. “This statue was not created for worship. It was created as a symbol of resilience, patriotism, courage, and gratitude. It was created to honor a man whom many may disagree with, but millions of Americans believe has done extraordinary things to make this nation stronger,” he clarified.
Burns further stated examples of how other prominent personalities are honored and not compared in religious contexts. He added, “People celebrate athletes, musicians, entertainers, and cultural icons while they are still alive. Michael Jordan has a statue in Chicago. Cristiano Ronaldo, Taylor Swift, Shakira, Ed Sheeran, and many others have been honored publicly in different ways. Yet Christians were not screaming “golden calf” over those moments.”
Originally reported by Shazmeen Navrange on Mandatory
