Pastor defends Trump statue: ‘Not a golden calf’

Published May 9, 2026 1:04pm ET | Updated May 9, 2026 1:04pm ET



A new gold statue of President Donald Trump has received backlash over its appearance as a type of false idol after it was unveiled on Wednesday at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, Florida.

Pastor Mark Burns, who hosted the dedication ceremony, defended the statue in response to critics.

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