this post was submitted on 11 May 2026
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Pastor Mark Burns, the president's informal "spiritual advisor," wants to make one thing very clear about the extremely tall gold statue of Donald Trump that was officially dedicated last week in Doral, Miami. "Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone," he wrote on Twitter.

He's technically right, just as Rene Magritte was technically right that his painting of a pipe was not actually a pipe. In the most literal sense, the statue of Trump, which is named "Don Colossus" is not a golden calf.

Despite the president calling it "The Real Deal - GOLD," on Truth Social, the statue is not made of gold. Unlike the golden calf, which was made from melting the jewelry of the Egyptians, the Trump statue is not actually made of solid gold. "Don Colossus" is cast in bronze and covered in gold leaf, making it much, much less valuable. It is also obviously not a calf, as calves are baby cows, and the statue is certainly not a baby cow.

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[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 7 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

This statue is a PERFECT representation of Trumpism, he can't resist revealing himself by the art he chooses. Reminds me of Mussolini.

(caption: a photo of the massive Mussolini head staring down a public square)

I think it's because these personalities surround themselves with sycophants, and this leads to them being isolated and unaware of their own ridiculousness. A universal truth across the centuries.

Ye shall know them by their fruits. ~Matthew 7:16

[–] robomuffin79@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago

Well how about that! The high priest of the 12 tribes of Israel said the exact same thing to Moses when asked why everyone was worshiping a golden calf

[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 2 points 22 hours ago

Some of them actually believe this guy is the antichrist and they're helping him destroy the world, thinking Jesus will just be cool with that. They'll believe anything.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 2 points 22 hours ago

I know it's not really important. But why have they made him fat?

[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 1 points 20 hours ago

Looks like a calf to me.

Also that's an insult to calfs. Or is it calves. The animal not the leg.

[–] BenLeMan@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago

We are witnessing Olympic levels of mental gymnastics here.

[–] tomiant@piefed.social 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

"The church has investigated the claims about rampant pedophilia"

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

And has determined that nothing unusual is going on?

[–] tomiant@piefed.social 4 points 1 day ago

In fact they found there's a shit-ton going on and they are all in favor! Imagine that.

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[–] MousePotatoDoesStuff@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What would Moses do?

Throw the idol into a fire, I guess.

The statue, too.

Reducing the idol into a powder, mixing it with water, and making the idolators drink the mixture is also on the table.

[–] Murse@slrpnk.net 82 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Sometimes I wish God was real, so we'd get to see him swoop in and smite these fucking hypocrites.

[–] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 23 points 2 days ago (5 children)

if god isn't real it is up to us to make the world a just god would make.

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[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.cafe 7 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it's a golden idol.

[–] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

He seems to be trying to claim that since it's not specifically a calf, it doesn't count.

[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 136 points 2 days ago (7 children)

It's still definitely an idol, though.

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 36 points 2 days ago

tiny dick and all.

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 23 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Probably the most American Idol to date

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[–] Australis13@fedia.io 97 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I'd like to ask Pastor Burns if he's read the book of Daniel, particularly chapters 3 and 4.

God struck Nebuchadnezzar (who likewise had a golden statue built for his entire kingdom to worship) with madness for 7 years for his pride.

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 75 points 2 days ago (2 children)

We're having madness right now.

[–] Australis13@fedia.io 34 points 2 days ago (2 children)

True, but in Nebuchadnezzar's case his kingdom was taken from him for those 7 years...

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 42 points 2 days ago (2 children)

If only we could be so fortunate.

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[–] normalentrance@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 day ago (4 children)

and God later sent a plague upon the people for their idolatry.

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[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.cafe 48 points 2 days ago (3 children)

the statue is certainly not a baby cow.

No, it's a giant pig.

[–] BeardededSquidward@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Now, be nicer to pigs, they're intelligent, capable of empathy. It's actually a giant pile of gold leafed shit.

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[–] cley_faye@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's not an idol, it's just a gold-looking representation of something a large group of people fervently honor and pray to, and according to their own chit-chat, hold in higher respect than jesus or god. And nothing more.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 3 points 1 day ago

how blasphemous of evengelicals.

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 26 points 2 days ago (8 children)

Do those bastards not see what can happen to despots?

[–] auntieclokwise@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)
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[–] Hupf@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago
[–] SuiXi3D@fedia.io 46 points 2 days ago

…if you feel the need to let everyone know how much the golden idol isn’t a golden idol, perhaps you’ve forgotten what an idol is and why your religion speaks against them.

[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 20 points 2 days ago (1 children)

These people love vice signalling. This is clearly a giant golden idol they worship. They love their pedo prince so much because he's all the vices.

[–] tomiant@piefed.social 1 points 1 day ago

"While we are worshipping this golden idol, we want to make perfectly clear that we are in fact worshipping Jesus."

These fucking pharisees man...

[–] Akh@lemmy.world 31 points 2 days ago (5 children)

This “church” wouldn’t know Christ if the Christ walked up to them and said to love their neighbors as Christ loved them.

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[–] stefenauris@pawb.social 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So what the fuck is it then Burns??

just one of the major heresies

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 36 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone,"

Which is why they erected a giant golden statue of the president of the United States. Makes perfect sense!

[–] Mirshe@lemmy.world 23 points 2 days ago

And blessed it, and have repeatedly said that Trump is either blessed by God, or God's divine instrument.

But this isn't idolatry.

[–] SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How long before he's charging admission just as far as the statue, so MAGAs can kneel to it?

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 29 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

It's not a golden calf

No. It's a golden pig-like thing that is fatter and smellier than a pig.

But also: If they worship Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone that's pretty weird. What about God and the Holy Spirit? Did this pastor even go to seminary school?

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[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

It is also obviously not a calf, as calves are baby cows, and the statue is certainly not a baby cow.

Right...bcz it's a statue of a large heffer.

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[–] BucketBong@p.hobo.social 25 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] HikingVet@lemmy.ca 28 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Baphomet is much better done

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[–] Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 2 days ago

It's obviously meant to be an homage to medical doctors.

[–] lovingisliving@anarchist.nexus 24 points 2 days ago (1 children)

A gold plated statue is really on the nose for this con artist.

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