A provocative and politically charged statue depicting Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been installed on the National Mall in Washington, DC, triggering intense public debate over protest art, political accountability, and the legacy of Epstein’s elite connections.
Erected Tuesday by an anonymous collective of artists, the nearly 12-foot-tall installation shows Trump embracing Epstein in a pose deliberately referencing a famous romantic scene from Titanic.
The statue stands on Third Street NW between Jefferson and Madison drives, one of the most visible and symbolically charged locations on the National Mall.
Plaques mounted at the base of the statue deliver a biting message. One reads, “The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches. This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches.”
The installation is accompanied by ten large banners placed nearby, each featuring a photograph of Trump and Epstein together alongside the slogan “Make America Safe Again”.
The banners display the insignia of the United States Department of Justice, with the word “Justice” visibly redacted — a visual statement that appears to question whether accountability has been selectively applied.
Trump has acknowledged knowing Epstein socially, particularly during the 1990s and early 2000s in Florida, but has said the relationship ended in the mid-2000s.
He has repeatedly stated that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls, a case that exposed deep ties between powerful elites and a vast abuse network.
The statue is the third high-profile installation by the same artists targeting Trump and Epstein. In September, the group unveiled a bronze sculpture titled Best Friends Forever, depicting the two holding hands.
In January, they placed a replica of a birthday note and drawing bearing Trump’s name that appeared in a 2003 album compiled for Epstein. Trump has denied authoring the note, insisting the signature was not his.
The artists identify themselves as “The Secret Handshake”, though their identities remain undisclosed. According to reports, the group works through an intermediary to obtain permits from the National Park Service for temporary installations on the Mall.
A copy of the permit reviewed by the media shows the installation’s end date redacted, though it is unclear whether this was done by park authorities or deliberately incorporated as part of the artwork’s message.
The White House responded sharply to the installation. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the statue as politically selective and accused its backers of hypocrisy. In a statement, she questioned why similar protest art had not been created targeting Democrats who allegedly maintained contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.
The National Mall has a long history as a stage for protest art, political expression, and social commentary. From anti-war demonstrations to civil rights installations, the space has repeatedly served as a battleground for competing narratives about power and justice. Near the Trump–Epstein statue, a separate colorectal cancer awareness installation featuring hundreds of blue flags has also been placed, highlighting the Mall’s role as a shared — and contested — civic space.
As tourists, protesters, and passersby stop to photograph the statue, argue over its meaning, or denounce it outright, the installation has succeeded in one clear objective: reigniting public scrutiny of Epstein’s ties to political elites and reopening unresolved questions about accountability at the highest levels of American power.
Whether viewed as protest art, political provocation, or public spectacle, the Trump–Epstein statue has once again turned the National Mall into a focal point for national debate — and ensured that one of the most disturbing scandals in modern U.S. history remains firmly in the public eye.
