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 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day 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

[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 day 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 1 day ago

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

[–] robomuffin79@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day 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

[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 111 points 2 days ago (6 children)

It's still definitely an idol, though.

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 28 points 2 days ago

tiny dick and all.

[–] frunch@lemmy.world 21 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Probably the most American Idol to date

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[–] mPony@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

with a golden calf just above each golden ankle

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[–] Australis13@fedia.io 84 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 workship) with madness for 7 years for his pride.

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 61 points 2 days ago (2 children)

We're having madness right now.

[–] Australis13@fedia.io 31 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 36 points 2 days ago (2 children)

If only we could be so fortunate.

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[–] Murse@slrpnk.net 65 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 17 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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[–] BenLeMan@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

We are witnessing Olympic levels of mental gymnastics here.

[–] tomiant@piefed.social 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"The church has investigated the claims about rampant pedophilia"

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days 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 2 days 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.

[–] normalentrance@lemmy.zip 15 points 2 days ago (4 children)

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

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[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Looks like a calf to me.

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

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.cafe 41 points 2 days ago (3 children)

the statue is certainly not a baby cow.

No, it's a giant pig.

[–] BeardededSquidward@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 2 days ago (3 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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[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.cafe 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

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

[–] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

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

[–] SuiXi3D@fedia.io 37 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.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 28 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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[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago (8 children)

Do those bastards not see what can happen to despots?

[–] auntieclokwise@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)
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[–] frunch@lemmy.world 30 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 19 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.

[–] cley_faye@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days 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 2 days ago

how blasphemous of evengelicals.

[–] Hupf@feddit.org 5 points 2 days ago
[–] Akh@lemmy.world 23 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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[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 15 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...

[–] SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days 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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[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 10 points 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 cow.

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[–] lovingisliving@anarchist.nexus 21 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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

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[–] BucketBong@p.hobo.social 19 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] HikingVet@lemmy.ca 23 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Baphomet is much better done

[–] FreddiesLantern@leminal.space 17 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not only that, a much better character to have a statue of.

[–] BucketBong@p.hobo.social 21 points 2 days ago

And way safer around those children

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