A controversial statue depicting Donald Trump holding hands with Jeffrey Epstein has been reinstalled on the National Mall, just days after the National Park Service (NPS) removed it. The work, known as the “Trump-Epstein Friendship Statue,” was created by the activist group Secret Handshake as a protest piece. Its surprise return comes as the Trump administration faces mounting criticism over withholding Epstein-related files that reportedly mention the former president.
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Statue’s Shocking Depiction
The pop-up installation shows Trump and Epstein holding hands beside a plaque displaying a crude birthday poem allegedly written by Trump in the early 2000s. The poem, revealed by The Wall Street Journal, appeared over a doodle of a naked woman. Trump has denied writing it and filed a defamation lawsuit against the Journal and Rupert Murdoch.
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Timeline of Installation
According to local outlet WUSA9, the statue was first placed on the Mall on Sept. 24 under a permit that allowed it to remain until Sept. 28. The permit carried a clause that it could be revoked at any time with 24 hours’ notice. The Park Service, however, intervened before the deadline, removing the installation earlier than expected.
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Permit Revoked by Officials
Secret Handshake told reporters that the removal was ordered by the NPS Deputy Director, who allegedly “overrode our approved permit.” The group said officials also warned them that they would never again be issued a permit. “No explanation was given as to why,” a member told local media. The activists further claimed the statue sustained damage during its initial removal.
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Political Context Around Epstein
The statue’s return adds fuel to the growing controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein case files. Reports suggest that Trump is mentioned in the documents, yet the administration has refused to make the full trove public. The decision has drawn backlash from both critics and transparency advocates.
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Previous Trump-Themed Protest Art
This is not the first time protest art has targeted Trump on the National Mall. In June, after Trump labeled nearby art installations “ugly,” activists erected a golden television with wings looping footage of Trump dancing awkwardly. These installations are part of a broader trend of artists using public spaces to lampoon the former president.