- A 12-foot golden statue of Trump holding a Bitcoin was unveiled as the Fed announced rate cuts.
- Investors behind the stunt launched a memecoin to expand its voice across digital forums.
- Bitcoin took the spotlight as the Fed’s rate cut sparked a mix of political and crypto debate.
On September 17, a 12-foot golden statue of Donald Trump holding a Bitcoin appeared outside the U.S. Capitol. The display, created by a group of memecoin creators, coincided with the Federal Reserve’s first interest-rate cut of the year, a quarter-point reduction. The statue is erected at 3rd Street across from Union Square, leading toward Capitol Hill, and is a mile from the White House. It was described as a tribute to Trump’s role in promoting Bitcoin and decentralized technology.
A website supporting the installation stated it honored Trump’s “unwavering commitment to advancing the future of finance through Bitcoin and decentralized technologies.” The unveiling was timed with financial policy developments circulating across markets. The Fed’s decision to lower borrowing costs was viewed as a boost for risk assets like cryptocurrency. Moreover, the connection between Trump and Bitcoin has turned policy into a stage for spectacle.
The Symbolism Portrayed in the Statue
The creators, a group of crypto investors, named it the “Donald J. Trump Golden Statue” (DJTGST). They said it aimed to spark conversation about the Fed’s role in shaping money and the push toward digital currency.
Hichem Zaghdoudi, one of the organizers, told sources that the statue was designed to ignite conversation about the future of government-issued currency and described it as a symbol where politics and finance intersect.
Further, Zaghdoudi stated that the statue was a statement of gratitude and credited Trump’s presidency for boosting Bitcoin’s mass adoption and institutional involvement. Notably, Trump has positioned himself as the “Bitcoin President,” courting the crypto community and securing significant industry backing in his campaign. His family’s financial involvement in crypto has raised concerns about conflicts of interest as oversight rules were loosened.
Related: Eric Trump-Backed American Bitcoin Joins Nasdaq Exchange
Memecoin Culture Meets Policy
Following the erection of the statue, the organizers created a memecoin linked to the statue on Pump.fun and promoted it through livestreams. The digital token, like the statue, became part of the broader spectacle.
In the livestream, an organizer explained that the statue was made from a hard foam to keep it light and manageable. Further, several posts circulated online over the preparation of the statue. Market observers stated that the statue displays signals that crypto legitimacy is shaped not only by code or markets but also by optics and political theater.
