A controversial statue depicting former President Donald Trump holding hands with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was removed by the National Park Service (NPS) before the end of its scheduled display.
The statue, created by the activist art group The Secret Handshake, was permitted to remain until Sept. 28 but was taken down at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 24.
The Secret Handshake’s Intent
The Secret Handshake said the installation marked “Friendship Month,” a satirical reference to Trump and Epstein’s past association. The group described itself as a collective of citizens using humor and art to provoke political discourse.
They previously staged other anti-Trump protest pieces, including the “Dictator Approved” sculpture and the “Gold TV statue.”
Permit and Removal Dispute
According to the NPS permit obtained by USA TODAY, the display could be revoked with 24 hours’ written notice. Organizers said they received no such notice before the removal, claiming the statue was broken in the process.
NPS officials told the group the structure was noncompliant because it exceeded size limits. The Department of the Interior later confirmed the noncompliance explanation but did not respond to accusations of free speech violations.
Symbolism and Controversial Inscriptions
The statue, positioned across from the U.S. Capitol and facing the National Mall, bore three plaques. One celebrated the “long-lasting bond” between Trump and Epstein. The other two contained excerpts from a 2003 birthday note allegedly written by Trump to Epstein.
Released by the House Oversight Committee on Sept. 8, the note included sexualized imagery and Trump’s purported signature, which he has denied. Trump has also filed a lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal for reporting on the note.
International Protest Art
Protest imagery linking Trump to Epstein has appeared beyond U.S. borders. On Sept. 16, British authorities arrested four individuals after images of Trump with Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle during Trump’s state visit.
