Don Colossus: 22-foot gold Trump statue sparks buzz and backlash

Several social media users drew comparisons between the statue and monuments dedicated to North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Critics argued that the imagery, a towering gold figure with a raised fist, echoed the aesthetics of authoritarian iconography.

In Short

• Sculptor Alan Cottrill made the bronze piece, later finished with gold leaf
• PATRIOT reportedly paid $300,000 for the sculpture and $60,000 for finishing
• A dispute over meme coin promotion delayed delivery until terms were settled

A 22-foot gold statue of US President Donald Trump has been installed at his Trump National Doral golf resort in Miami, drawing both attention and criticism for its scale, symbolism and backstory.

The towering structure, nicknamed “Don Colossus,” shows Trump with his fist raised, a pose reminiscent of his reaction following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in 2024.

A STATUTE WITH A STORY

The 3.1-ton bronze statue, coated in thick gold leaf, was created by Ohio-based sculptor Alan Cottrill. It was commissioned by a cryptocurrency group called $PATRIOT, which reportedly paid around $300,000 for the sculpture and an additional $60,000 for the gold finish.

But the project was far from smooth.

Cottrill had earlier locked horns with the crypto group, accusing it of using the statue’s likeness to promote a meme coin without proper permission. The dispute delayed the installation, with the statue reportedly held in storage in Ohio until payment and terms were finalised. Only recently did Cottrill transport the piece himself to Miami, where it now stands between the first tee and the driving range at Doral.

The Trump family, however, has distanced itself from the funding, making it clear they were not involved in the $PATRIOT initiative.

MIXED REACTIONS ON THE GROUND

Despite its prominent placement, not everyone is eager to embrace the statue.

According to Golfweek, some golfers and PGA Tour staff have been reluctant to pose with it, even as it was installed just ahead of the PGA Tour’s Cadillac Championship.

Professional golfer Rickie Fowler summed up the mood with a shrug. “It’s big and gold,” he told The Palm Beach Post. “About all I got. It’s his place — he can do whatever he wants.”

“It is very tall and very gold,” was Maverick McNealy’s initial assessment to Golf Week.

ONLINE BACKLASH

However, Online, the reaction has been sharper.

Several social media users drew comparisons between the statue and monuments dedicated to North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Critics argued that the imagery, a towering gold figure with a raised fist, echoed the aesthetics of authoritarian iconography.

“What else would you expect,” Fowler also told Golfweek, in a remark that has since circulated widely.

Critics were quick to draw parallels with statues of North Korean leaders. Mike Sington, former NBC Universal senior executive, wrote on X: “Trump’s Doral National golf course in Miami installs gold statue of Trump, which is remarkably similar to one of Dear Leader in North Korea.”

Another user criticised the move, writing, “Crazy stuff. All that’s left is to declare martial law, cancel elections and declare himself dictator for life.”

Another user criticised the installation, writing, “Trump just erected a golden statue of himself for MAGA to worship,” and described it as “narcissistic.”

Several users echoed similar sentiments, pointing to the statue’s scale, pose and gold finish as resembling authoritarian imagery. Others dismissed the comparisons as exaggerated, calling the statue a private installation on personal property.

The clip and images of the statue have since gone viral, fuelling debate across platforms — from political criticism to memes and satire.

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