Pastor defends Golden Trump statue from biblical backlash:

thedailybeast.com/pastor-mark-burns-defends-bizarre-golden-trump-statue/

May 10

MAGA Pastor Defends Bizarre Golden Trump Statue: “I don’t know anybody who worships Donald Trump as a God,” he said.

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More articles on this subject

HuffPost

huffpost.com/entry/mark-burns-gold-trump-statue-don-colossus-calf_n_69ff8197e4b0cb033e51f234

May 09

MAGA Pastor's Defense Of New Gold Trump Statue Mocked With Biblical Comparison: “Saying ‘this is not a golden calf’ as you put up a golden calf doesn't cancel ...

162

316 186

CTVNews

Grade: A-

May 08

Golden Trump statue is no idol for worship, pastor insists : A massive gilded statue of U.S. President Donald Trump installed at his Miami golf course is ...

ctvnews.ca/world/article/golden-trump-statue-is-no-idol-for-worship-pastor-insists/

Inquirer.net May 08

Golden Trump statue is no idol for worship, pastor insists: The bust portion of a 15-foot bronze statue of US President Donald Trump, coated in gold leaf ...

globalnation.inquirer.net/322257/golden-trump-statue-is-no-idol-for-worship-pastor-insists

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MS NOW

ms.now/opinion/trump-golden-statue-bible-idolatry

May 16

OpinionThe newest Trump monument disobeys the biblical commandment to ‘flee from idolatry’

time.com/article/2026/05/15/trump-gold-statue-controversy-comments-history/

151

Time

Grade: B

May 15

'It Will Become a Landmark': Trump Defends Giant Golden Statue of Himself Amid Much Debate

huffpost.com/entry/baptist-pastor-robert-jeffress-trump-pope-better-understanding-bible_n_6a006d50e4b0cb033e521809

200

BuzzFeed

Grade: B-

May 11

Trump Claims Biblical Knowledge Surpasses Pope's: Trump shared a clip of a controversial pastor declaring that the pope is "sincerely wrong when it comes to ...

Key FactsTrump and Pastor Publicly Challenge Pope Leo XIV

May 12, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: huffpost.com

Donald Trump shared a Baptist pastor’s claim that he has a superior understanding of biblical teachings on government compared to Pope Leo XIV.

Pastor Jeffress labeled the pope as sincerely mistaken regarding Iran and endorsed Trump’s military strikes against the country.

Jeffress asserted that the church’s role is to guide faith, while government must protect citizens from evil, citing Romans 13.

Rubio held a Vatican meeting to reduce tensions and described the encounter as productive and cordial despite the dispute.

The great irony is it looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has.
— Pastor Robert Jeffress, evangelical Christian leader, in a Fox News clip shared by the president on Truth Social

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75 169

Tampa Bay Times

Grade: A-

May 13

Florida pastors outraged by Christian leader’s defense of golden Trump statue: The pastor said the statue is meant to be a symbol of the “hand of God over ...

tampabay.com/news/florida/2026/05/12/trump-gold-statue-florida/

176

May 13

Donald Trump’s Golden Statue: Critics’ Biblical Comparisons Explained: A 22-foot golden statue of President Donald Trump at his golf course is riling some ...

newsweek.com/donald-trump-golden-statue-biblical-comparisons-explained-11940790

salon.com/2026/05/10/trumps-newest-gold-statue-revives-golden-calf-criticism/

233

Salon.com

Grade: D+

May 10

Trump’s newest gold statue revives “golden calf” criticism - Salon.com: Trump’s fascination with gold aesthetics fuels criticism from religious observers uneasy ...

Key FactsTrump Statue Sparks Debate Over Political Symbolism

May 10, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: salon.com

A newly revealed 22-foot golden statue of Donald Trump at Trump National Doral has reignited discussions about political branding resembling religious imagery.

Some Christian commentators have likened the statue to the biblical golden calf, warning of rising political idol worship.

Gold has been a consistent theme in Trump’s public persona, symbolizing wealth and power, yet critics see it as vanity and worship.

This controversy highlights divisions within American Christianity regarding the merging of faith and partisan political identity during Trump’s era.

One of the greatest honors of my life was leading the dedication of President Donald J. Trump’s statue to the world. 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…
— Pastor Mark Burns, via a tweet on May 8, 2026

thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/stephen-colbert-suggests-addition-trump-golden-statue/

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TheWrap

Grade: D+

May 12

Stephen Colbert Suggests Addition to Trump’s Golden Statue for ‘When We’re Liberated by the Canadians’ | Video

WION

wionews.com/world/why-was-a-22-foot-gold-statue-of-trump-unveiled-at-his-florida-golf-resort-1778402519063

May 10

Why was a 22-foot gold statue of Trump unveiled at his Florida golf resort?: A 22-foot gold-leafed Trump statue was unveiled at Doral, funded by $PATRIOT ...

thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/the-view-trump-golden-statue-small-dictator-energy-reaction/

TheWrap

Grade: D+

May 11

‘The View’ Hosts Thrash Trump’s New Gold Statue of Himself at Golf Club: ‘Small Dictator Energy’

The Daily Beast

thedailybeast.com/trumps-golden-statue-honored-in-bizarre-dedication/

May 07

Trump’s Golden Statue Honored in Bizarre Dedication: The 22‑foot gold‑leafed statue, dubbed the “Don Colossus,” was erected at Trump’s golf course.

tvinsider.com/1263282/the-boys-eric-kripke-trump-statue-homelander/

162

TV Insider May 10

‘The Boys’: Eric Kripke Reacts to Trump’s Gold Statue Mirroring Homelander’s: The 22-foot-statue of Trump is another example of real life imitating the satire of ...

New York Magazine

nymag.com/intelligencer/article/gold-trump-statue-doral-false-idol.html

May 07

Gold 22-Foot Trump Statue Definitely Isn’t a False Idol: You can tell because Trump’s pastor friend said of the new statue at the Doral golf course ...

independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-gold-statue-golf-course-pastor-b2972303.html

100

The Independent

Grade: C+

May 07

Pastor leads wild dedication ceremony for Trump’s giant gold statue at his own golf course

1 similar article

103

New York Magazine

nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-presidential-library-holocaust-museum-golden-fist.html

Apr 08

Trump’s New Library Casts Him As Idol: Trump’s new library shows the stupefying ways the president warps our understanding of the past ...

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Los Angeles Times

Grade: B+

Apr 01

OpinionTrump’s gold statue at presidential library is a terrible idea: Days after millions participated in nationwide No Kings protests, a big gold statue in the middle ...

latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2026-03-31/trump-gold-statue-presidential-library-idol-terrible-idea

theatlantic.com/culture/2026/02/let-trump-keep-building-monuments-to-himself/685903/

The Atlantic

Grade: B-

Feb 08

Let Trump Keep Building Monuments to Himself: The president’s penchant for gilded statues and self-glorification might at least help clarify the nature of his ...

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WION