WASHINGTON — A provocative statue of former President Donald Trump holding hands with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has resurfaced on the National Mall, reigniting controversy amid the ongoing government shutdown.
The bronze-colored artwork, titled “Best Friends Forever,” shows the pair with clasped hands and one leg playfully lifted in the air. A plaque at its base reads: “In honor of friendship month, we celebrate the long-standing bond between President Donald J. Trump and his closest friend Jeffrey Epstein.”
The installation first appeared last week but was swiftly removed by U.S. Park Police on Sept. 24. Its return on Thursday once again drew sharp reactions.
An Interior Department spokesperson, deflecting questions about the piece, took a partisan jab instead: “The only people holding hands in D.C. right now are [Senate Minority Leader Chuck] Schumer and [House Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries after they shut down the government to push their radical agenda.”
Neither the National Park Service nor the White House responded to requests for comment. Last week, White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson dismissed the statue as political theater, saying: “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.” She accused Democrats and the media of ignoring Epstein’s victims for years while insisting Trump had always pushed for “transparency.”
The group behind the stunt, calling itself The Secret Handshake, previously claimed responsibility in a statement to The Independent.
The timing of the statue’s reappearance has fueled ongoing criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of Epstein-related documents. Although Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel once vowed to release more records, both reversed course. In July, the Justice Department and FBI issued a memo declaring all evidence had been reviewed and no further information would be made public — a move that sparked outrage across the political spectrum, including from some Trump supporters.
Trump and Epstein’s past association has long been scrutinized. In 2002, Trump told New York magazine he had known Epstein for 15 years and called him a “terrific guy,” though the two reportedly had a falling-out before Epstein faced widespread accusations of exploiting underage girls. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting one minor, later faced federal sex trafficking charges in 2019, and died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial — a death that continues to fuel conspiracy theories.
Over the summer, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for Epstein records, though Democrats said much of what was eventually released contained little new information.
For now, the statue stands as both a political provocation and a reminder of Epstein’s shadow over figures across the political spectrum — Trump included.
