statue of trump and epstein in washington dc

A statue depicting President Donald Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands appeared briefly on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The bronze statue, titled "Best Friends Forever," showed them playfully skipping hand-in-hand, with a plaque celebrating their so-called "long-standing bond" in honor of Friendship Month. It was installed by an anonymous group called The Secret Handshake, which had a permit for the statue to remain through September 28, 2025. However, the U.S. Park Police removed the statue early on Wednesday, September 24, citing non-compliance with permit regulations. The exact details of the non-compliance were unclear, but the statue was dismantled and taken away, with its current location unknown. The statue drew attention because of Trump's historically controversial association with Epstein, which Trump downplayed and distanced himself from in recent years. The installation also included references to a provocative birthday note said to be from Trump to Epstein. The White House condemned the statue, defending Trump’s past actions regarding Epstein. This event was part of a series of politically charged artworks temporarily displayed in Washington, D.C., aimed at protesting or criticizing President Trump.