Mark Burns is an evangelical pastor and televangelist who became nationally known as an early and outspoken supporter of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. TIME magazine referred to him as one of Trump’s most visible pastors.
Burns has served as a Trump campaign surrogate and member of Trump’s evangelical faith advisory circle. He spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention and has frequently defended Trump in media appearances.
Upon the dedication of a giant gold leaf statue of Trump…
Notable Quotes and Elements from Pastor Burns:
• He described the event as historic: “Today at Trump National Doral Miami, we witnessed an unforgettable moment.” (Well that’s true enough. A supposed religious group celebrating an unethical, liar, bully and racist.)
• Explicitly addressed idolatry concerns: “Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. This statue is a celebration of life. It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the will power to keep fighting for the future of America.”
• Framed it as a reminder of “the hand of God” and divine protection over Trump’s life (referencing multiple assassination attempts).
The ceremony blended prayers, speeches, and a sense of gratitude/honor from supporters. Burns called it more than a ribbon-cutting — a “visible sign of a movement.”
Trump’s Involvement:
Trump did not attend in person but phoned in during the event. Pastor Burns held up his phone to the microphone so Trump could address the crowd. Trump thanked Burns (“a good pastor, he’s a good man”) and the attendees, saying it was “done from love.”
Background and Funding:
The statue was commissioned and funded by a group of cryptocurrency supporters/investors (tied to the $PATRIOT memecoin) ## along with over 6,000 donors. Sculptor Alan Cottrill created the bronze piece with gold leaf. There were prior payment disputes, but it was resolved before installation.
The event drew significant media attention, with supporters viewing it as a patriotic tribute and critics calling it bizarre or idolatrous (e.g., “golden calf” comparisons). Trump later posted positively about it on Truth Social, calling it “The Real Deal – GOLD.”
Videos and photos from the event circulated widely on social media and news outlets. It coincided with preparations for the PGA Tour’s Cadillac Championship at Doral.
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