The anonymous artists who have targeted President Donald Trump with satirical statues and installations in Washington struck again on the National Mall on Tuesday morning with an enormous statue of the president embracing the deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a replica of the famous “King of the World” scene from the movie “Titanic.”
Spray-painted gold, the work depicts Trump standing behind Epstein and facing the Washington Monument on a replica of the bow of the ill-fated ship in the same pose as the movie’s lead characters, Jack and Rose.
At the base of the nearly 12-foot-tall installation are plaques that read: “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.”
Between the statue and the Capitol are 10 individual banners bearing a photo of Trump and Epstein together and stamped with the words “Make America Safe Again” and the insignia of the Justice Department with the word “Justice” redacted.
Trump had a long-standing friendship with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019. Trump has said that he knew Epstein socially in Florida and that they had a falling out in the mid-2000s. The president has maintained that he did not know about Epstein’s criminal behavior.
The statue, located on Third Street NW between Jefferson and Madison drives, is the third placed on the Mall by the artists depicting Trump and Epstein. In January, they placed a massive replica of a birthday note and crude drawing signed with the typed name Donald Trump and a “Donald” signature that was part of a 2003 book of birthday wishes for Epstein. Trump has denied writing the note and has told reporters that the signature is not his.
In September, the same group of artists installed a spray-painted bronze statue titled “Best Friends Forever” that depicted Trump and Epstein holding hands, each with one foot raised behind them.
The artists, who go by the name “The Secret Handshake” but whose real identities are unknown to The Washington Post, use a go-between to obtain permits for the installations from the National Park Service. Permits for installations on the Mall typically show a beginning and an end date. But on a copy of the permit obtained by The Post the end date for this new installation is redacted.
It is unclear whether that redaction was made by the Park Service or if it is a conceptual part of the art installation. Attempts to reach a Park Service spokesperson for clarification were unsuccessful because their offices are closed during the partial government shutdown.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the installation.
The National Mall has long been a setting for installations and protest art as well as for campaigns to highlight contentious issues or simply raise awareness for causes. Directly adjacent to the new Trump statue, a colorectal cancer awareness installation features thousands of fluttering blue flags bringing attention to the illness.
On an abnormally warm March day, a steady stream of visitors — tourists, joggers, Capitol Hill denizens and curious federal workers — stopped to take in the statue and offer assessments.
“I like that they keep popping up to remind people what happened,” said Nick Smith, 45, of Navy Yard, who noted that he’s seen most of the statues and installations the mysterious artists have placed on the Mall. “This one is just a little funnier than the others.”
District residents Don and Donna Powell heard about the statue and came to pose in front of it. They said they appreciated the message the work delivered. “With Trump declaring war on Iran, we know he’s trying to distract from the Epstein files,” said Donna, 67. “This brings the files back to the forefront. A lot can be said with art.”
“With the assault on the First Amendment, what’s getting through is comedians and artists,” her husband concurred.
Steve Fleckenstein of Arlington was enjoying a stroll on the Mall with his wife to celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary. He too found the very existence of the statue encouraging.
“We’re just yards away from the Capitol and someone is able to put this up which tells me there is reason for hope,” Fleckenstein said.
Not everyone was pleased with the work’s message or its placement.
A couple of families with young children from Pennsylvania skirted the statue and the small crowd that had gathered around it. “I don’t love seeing it here,” said Josh, who declined to give his last name. “It’s a little distasteful and it’s not really helping the conversation.”
Jane Gilbert, 51, was visiting D.C. from Atlanta with her uncle to attend an award ceremony for his scientific achievements. She halted her four-mile run mid-stride to take a closer look. Gilbert said she appreciated the artist’s perspective but also lamented the state of the country.
“It’s so needed for levity and calling out what should not be normalized or hidden,” Gilbert said of the statue. “However, it doesn’t actually move the needle any more than social media rants. What is needed is elected officials doing the less glamorous daily and often slow work to help all boats to rise rather then merely keeping us entertained or enraged as we all drown.”
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