A 22-foot gold statue of US President Donald Trump has been installed at the Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, attracting widespread attention as well as criticism for its size, symbolism, and origins. The structure, nicknamed “Don Colossus,” depicts Trump with a raised fist—a pose associated with his public reaction following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in 2024.
The statue, which weighs approximately 3.1 tonnes, was created by sculptor Alan Cottrill and coated with a thick layer of gold leaf. It was commissioned by a cryptocurrency group known as $PATRIOT, which reportedly spent around $300,000 on the sculpture and an additional $60,000 on the gold finish. However, the project encountered disputes during its development, with Cottrill accusing the group of using the statue’s likeness to promote a meme coin without proper consent. This disagreement delayed the installation, leaving the statue in storage in Ohio until financial and contractual issues were resolved. It was only recently transported to Miami by the artist himself and installed between the first tee and driving range at the resort. The Trump family has clarified that it had no involvement in funding or commissioning the project.
Reactions at the site have been mixed. While the statue occupies a prominent position, some golfers and staff linked to the PGA Tour have reportedly shown little enthusiasm for engaging with it. Professional golfer Rickie Fowler commented that the statue is simply “big and gold,” adding that, as it is Trump’s property, he is free to install such features. Similarly, Maverick McNealy noted its striking size and appearance without offering strong endorsement or criticism.
Online, however, the reaction has been significantly more intense. Many users across social media platforms have drawn comparisons between the statue and monuments associated with North Korean leaders such as Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Critics argue that the statue’s towering scale, gold finish, and raised-fist pose resemble stylistic elements commonly associated with authoritarian iconography. Some commentators have suggested that the imagery reflects a cult-of-personality aesthetic, while others have dismissed such comparisons as exaggerated, noting that the statue is installed on private property rather than as a state-sponsored monument.
The debate has been amplified by posts from public figures such as Mike Sington, who highlighted similarities between the statue and those of North Korean leadership. Additional online reactions have ranged from political criticism to satire and memes, with some users characterising the installation as symbolic of personal glorification, while others view it as a controversial but permissible expression tied to private ownership.
Images and videos of the statue have since gone viral, further fuelling discussions across digital platforms about its meaning, intent, and broader political symbolism.
