A provocative statue depicting former U.S. President Donald Trump hand-in-hand with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has appeared outside the U.S. Capitol on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., reigniting debate over the pair’s past association.
The installation, attributed to an unknown group, shows Trump and Epstein cast in bronze, smiling and holding hands. A plaque beneath the figures reads: “In honor of friendship month, we celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend’ Jeffrey Epstein.” The inscription also features a silhouette of two hands forming a heart shape.
The display references unearthed recordings in which Epstein allegedly described Trump as his “closest friend.” The two men were known to socialize in the 1990s, with Trump once hosting Epstein at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, Trump described Epstein as a “terrific guy” who liked women “on the younger side.” However, following Epstein’s 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, Trump insisted he had distanced himself from the financier. “I had a falling out with him. I haven’t spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan,” Trump told reporters at the time.
Asked about the statue, a White House spokesperson dismissed its significance, telling TIME magazine: “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. Democrats, the media, and the organization that’s wasting their money on this statue knew about Epstein and his victims for years and did nothing to help them while President Trump was calling for transparency.”
The statue follows a series of similar activist-led protests abroad. Ahead of Trump’s recent second state visit to the United Kingdom, a massive banner featuring him alongside Epstein was briefly displayed on the grounds of Windsor Castle, where he was hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Protesters also projected images of Trump and Epstein onto the castle walls as Air Force One touched down in London. The demonstrations extended to Scotland, where a bus stop near the U.S. Embassy in London displayed a photograph of the two men, later updated with Trump’s 2002 remarks praising Epstein.
The resurfacing of their association has been further fueled by the publication of alleged letters written for a book commemorating Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. Among them was a note purportedly signed by Trump, featuring a sketch of a woman’s body alongside the message: “Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
The latest statue on the National Mall underscores how Epstein’s legacy continues to shadow high-profile figures, ensuring Trump’s past ties with him remain a flashpoint for activists and critics alike.
