A striking public art installation has appeared on the National Mall in Washington DC - a 12-foot statue depicting US President Donald Trump holding hands with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Installed early Tuesday morning by an anonymous group calling itself The Secret Handshake Project, the sculpture has instantly drawn public attention for its provocative nature and underlying message.

An unusual statue with a controversial message

The installation, titled ‘Best Friends Forever’, shows the two men smiling at one another as they walk together. Made of foam, resin, wood, and wire, the statue is spray-painted bronze to lend it weight and gravitas. Positioned between Madison and Jefferson Avenues on the National Mall, directly across from the US Capitol, the sculpture is scheduled to remain until September 28, Sunday at 8 pm, under rules protecting free speech and artistic expression.

According to a spokesperson for the collective, the piece is designed to “celebrate the friendship of these real men.” Three plaques surround the sculpture. The main one states: “We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend’ Jeffrey Epstein.” Two others display excerpts from an alleged letter Trump wrote for Epstein’s 50th birthday, including a line reading: “Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything.” The letter, containing a hand-drawn figure of a naked woman and Trump’s reported signature, was recently released by the House Oversight Committee. Trump has denied authorship of the letter and filed a $10 billion defamation suit against the Wall Street Journal over its publication.

Historical context of the Trump–Epstein relationship

Trump and Epstein’s social association is well documented, dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s. They were frequently photographed together, including at Trump’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. Epstein, in recordings obtained by the Daily Beast, referred to himself as Trump’s “closest friend,” while Trump described Epstein as a “terrific guy.” Their relationship reportedly ended in the mid-2000s after Trump accused Epstein of taking young female employees from his private club.

The White House responded quickly to the statue, with a spokesperson stating: “Liberals are free to waste their money however they see fit – but it’s not news that Epstein knew Donald Trump, because Donald Trump kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep.” Trump himself has repeatedly distanced himself from Epstein, calling him a “creep” and saying he had not communicated with him for 15 years before Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges in 2019.

Public reaction and legal context

While Trump has never faced legal charges in relation to Epstein, their past association has been heavily scrutinised. The Department of Justice recently released a memo closing investigations into Epstein’s death, concluding there is no evidence of a “client list” involving high-profile figures. Nonetheless, Epstein-related documents continue to be released or demanded by oversight bodies and journalists. These include alleged letters and drawings, some of which are referenced by the statue’s plaques. Trump has denied involvement in some of the claims and is pursuing legal action over them.

The internet’s reaction to the statue

The statue quickly became a viral sensation online, with social media users responding with memes, jokes, and satire. One user on the platform X posted a comical image of Trump reading a book titled, “1000 ways to hide Epstein Files for Dummies.” Another quipped, “hey king where can i donate to build statue of you and jojojojo like this maga would absolutely haaaaate it!!!”

The installation has sparked heated discussion about free speech, political satire, and the enduring public fascination with Epstein-related controversies.