Trump's Golden Effigy Sparks Comparisons to North Korean Icons

A striking 15-foot golden statue of former President Trump has ignited discussions, drawing comparisons to the grand monuments of North Korea's past leaders.

Dubbed “Don Colossus,” this imposing figure was unveiled at the Trump National Doral Miami just days before the PGA Tour’s Cadillac Championship.

Social media users wasted no time in likening the statue to those honoring Kim Il-sung and his son, Kim Jong-il, both of whom are revered in North Korea.

“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,” remarked Mike Sington, a former NBCUniversal executive, on X.

Dr. Sam Youssef, a well-known internet figure and vocal critic of Trump, suggested on X that the statue symbolizes the president's aspiration to emulate North Korean leadership.

“What else would you expect?” professional golfer Rickie Fowler commented to Golfweek.

During his presidency, Trump had a tumultuous rapport with Kim Jong Un, the current leader of North Korea. He famously referred to Kim as “Little Rocket Man” and boasted about having a nuclear button “much bigger” than Kim’s.

Despite their rocky start, the two leaders eventually found common ground, with Trump claiming they “fell in love” after exchanging “beautiful letters.”

In April, Trump reiterated that he “got along very well” with Kim, even mentioning that the North Korean leader had used a derogatory term to describe President Biden’s mental acuity.

Some golfers and PGA Tour personnel have hesitated to take photos with the statue, which depicts Trump raising his fist—a gesture reminiscent of an assassination attempt he faced in Pennsylvania in 2024, according to Golfweek.

Maverick McNealy expressed uncertainty about snapping a selfie with the statue, describing it as “very tall and very gold.”

When a tournament photographer approached Tour staff for a group photo with the statue, he was met with a firm “no.”

“Ok, I didn’t know you were all so woke,” he quipped, as reported by Golfweek.

This 3.1-ton statue, crafted from bronze, was designed by Ohio artist Alan Cottrill.

Cottrill revealed to The Columbus Dispatch that he had previously encountered a payment dispute with $PATRIOT, the cryptocurrency group that commissioned the statue in August 2024.

The artist received $300,000 for the bronze and an additional $60,000 for the gold leafing that adorns the statue. He stated that the conflict arose when $PATRIOT began using the statue’s likeness for selling crypto tokens, prompting him to secure the statue in a hidden location in Muskingum County until full payment was rendered.

The White House has clarified that it is not involved in the cryptocurrency initiative or the statue itself.