Controversial 22-Foot Golden Trump Statue to Greet G20 Leaders

Crypto enthusiasts fund larger-than-life monument, dubbed 'Don Colossus,' to be displayed at upcoming summit in Miami

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:54pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fractured geometric shapes in shades of gold, orange, and red, conceptually representing the controversial 'Don Colossus' statue of Donald Trump.The controversial 'Don Colossus' statue, a 22-foot-tall golden tribute to former President Trump, is set to greet world leaders at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, sparking debates about the intersection of politics, pop culture, and cryptocurrency.Today in Miami

A 22-foot-tall golden statue of former President Donald Trump, dubbed the 'Don Colossus,' is set to greet world leaders at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami. The statue, commissioned by cryptocurrency enthusiasts to promote their memecoin, has become a source of controversy due to disputes over the artist's compensation and questions about the intersection of art, politics, and digital currencies.

Why it matters

The presence of the towering Trump statue at the G20 summit, which will be held at the Trump National Doral resort, raises questions about the appropriate use of political imagery, the influence of cryptocurrency in public spaces, and the potential conflicts of interest surrounding the choice of venue.

The details

The 'Don Colossus' statue was sculpted by Ohio-based artist Alan Cottrill, who was commissioned by a group of crypto enthusiasts to depict Trump in a more 'polished' and flattering way. However, Cottrill claims he is owed $90,000 of the $150,000 payment and is refusing to release the statue until the dispute is resolved. The backers of the project, led by Ashley Sansalone, insist that the full payment will be made, but the standoff highlights the messy intersection of art, politics, and cryptocurrency.

  • The G20 summit is scheduled to take place in Miami later this year.
  • The 'Don Colossus' statue was commissioned in early 2026.

The players

Alan Cottrill

An Ohio-based artist known for his presidential portraits, who was commissioned to sculpt the 'Don Colossus' statue.

Ashley Sansalone

One of the backers of the 'Don Colossus' project, representing the group of cryptocurrency enthusiasts who funded the statue.

Donald Trump

The former president whose likeness is depicted in the 22-foot-tall golden statue.

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What they’re saying

“I had him very lifelike, but the crypto guys wanted a more polished version.”

— Alan Cottrill, Artist

“Payment will be made in full.”

— Ashley Sansalone, Project Backer

What’s next

The dispute over the artist's compensation for the 'Don Colossus' statue must be resolved before the statue can be released and displayed at the G20 summit in Miami.

The takeaway

The 'Don Colossus' statue highlights the complex and often controversial intersection of art, politics, and cryptocurrency, raising questions about the appropriate use of political imagery, the influence of digital currencies in public spaces, and the potential conflicts of interest surrounding the choice of venue for major international events.