A massive gilded statue of President Donald Trump installed at his Miami golf course is definitely not a 'golden calf' to be worshipped, the pastor who led a dedication ceremony for the eyebrow-raising effigy insisted Friday.
Statue Unveiled at Trump National Doral
Financed by cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and supporters of Trump, the 15-foot (4.6-meter) tall bronze statue is covered in gold leaf — a favorite style of the president. Its fate had been uncertain as its creator awaited final payment for months. However, the 'Don Colossus' statue, which depicts Trump raising his fist after surviving an assassination attempt in 2024, was finally unveiled Wednesday at Trump National Doral.
Televangelist Addresses Criticism
Televangelist Mark Burns, an ally of the 79-year-old billionaire president who led the dedication ceremony, quickly sought to get ahead of any claims of idol worship — which is expressly forbidden in the Ten Commandments. 'Let me say this plainly: this is not a golden calf,' he said later that night on X, referring to the Old Testament idol that famously made Moses irate after he received the Commandments.
'This statue is not about worship. It is about honour,' said Burns. 'It is a celebration of life and a powerful symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, courage, and the will to keep fighting for America.'
Apparently, many people were not convinced — so Burns doubled down on Friday. 'What amazes me is how quickly some people have compared this beautiful statue, created and made possible by more than 6,000 patriots, to a golden calf or idol worship,' Burns wrote. 'Let me be very clear. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. Honour is not worship. Respect is not idolatry.'
