Thu Sep 25 14:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Controversial Trump-Epstein Statue Briefly Appears on National Mall
**Washington D.C.** – A statue depicting former President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands was erected near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, sparking immediate controversy before being removed by U.S. Park Police early Wednesday morning.
The bronze-painted sculpture, titled “Best Friends Forever,” showed the two men smiling and raising their arms and legs. A plaque at the base, inscribed with “In Honor of Friendship Month,” celebrated the “long-lasting bond” between Trump and Epstein, a relationship the former president has repeatedly downplayed.
The Secret Handshake, a group known for its anti-Trump art installations, claimed responsibility for the statue. They had obtained a permit for the display through Sunday but were surprised when park police removed it prematurely.
A Department of the Interior spokesperson told NPR that the statue was removed for permit non-compliance, though specifics were not provided. The Secret Handshake accused the Trump administration of censorship, claiming they received no prior notice as stipulated in their permit. They also stated the statue was damaged during the removal.
The White House responded to the controversy, criticizing the art and reiterating that Trump had severed ties with Epstein after banning him from his Mar-a-Lago club for inappropriate behavior.
The statue joins a series of anti-Trump installations by The Secret Handshake that have appeared on the National Mall in the past year, including a replica of Nancy Pelosi’s desk topped with a pile of feces and a fist clutching a tiki torch referencing the Charlottesville rally.
First Piper 