Story perspectives

Trump's Cult of Personality: Gold Statue and Branding Blitz

2/16/2026

Left

Trump's Cult Promotion

U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies self-promotion during his second term, sparking comparisons to a cult of personality.
He has his name on public projects, including John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and proposed battleships.
Supporters are constructing a 15-foot gold statue named Don Colossus at his Miami golf course.
Critics say the branding reflects an obsession with power and ego, likening it to the practices of historic dictators.

Right

Trump's Controversial Promotion

U.S. President Donald Trump shared a racist video depicting Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in derogatory terms, sparking bipartisan outrage.
The video was later deleted.
Critics noted the video also portrayed Trump as the "King of the Jungle," reinforcing his self-image as a dominant figure.
The incident highlights Trump's ongoing self-promotion and the normalization of his controversial actions during his second term.

1 of 2

Trump's Cult Promotion

U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies self-promotion during his second term, sparking comparisons to a cult of personality.
He has his name on public projects, including John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and proposed battleships.
Supporters are constructing a 15-foot gold statue named Don Colossus at his Miami golf course.
Critics say the branding reflects an obsession with power and ego, likening it to the practices of historic dictators.

1 / 2