Trump and Epstein dancing statues taken down in DC

A pair of bronze statues depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein has been removed from the National Mall in Washington, D.C, despite carrying permits for its installation.

The National Park Service (NPS) removed an art piece titled “Best Friends Forever” from the National Mall on Wednesday, despite the statue’s permits. The activist group “The Secret Handshake” has taken credit for the demonstration, per multiple sources. This is the group’s fifth sculpture protesting the current administration, but the first that has been destroyed.

NPS removed the statues that depicts Trump and Epstein frolicking hand-in-hand, with giddy grins on their faces, just after midnight on Wednesday morning. The Secret Handshake shared photos of the destroyed statues, including one that showed Donald Trump’s head had been slashed in two.

The group claims the height dispute was a misunderstanding and that the NPS had a valid reason for removing the statue; however, the National Park Service was under an obligation to give 24 hours’ notice before removal.

Patrick Flaisher, one of the individuals who files permits for The Secret Handshake, spoke with CNN on Wednesday, stating, “We submitted everything correctly, but there was a discrepancy about the height that ended up on the permit. Regardless, their permit clearly states that if they choose to revoke a permit, they are to provide a 24-hour written notice. Instead, they showed up unannounced in the middle of the night, broke it, and hauled it away.”

Flaisher also made his approval of the NPS clear, claiming, “Before this, they’ve never been anything but friendly to work with.”

This is the fifth statue that The Secret Handshake has erected in Washington. In October 2024, they showcased “The Resolute Desk” at the National Mall, featuring a large, emoji-styled piece of human feces on a replica of the Presidential Desk. Just days later, they unveiled “The Donald J Trump Enduring Flame” at Freedom Plaza, featuring a large bronze tiki torch.

In June 2025, a statue of a golden thumbs-up crushing the head of the statue of Liberty titled “Dictator Approved” appeared in the National Mall. It stayed for a week before being replaced by a golden television sporting an eagle.

The statue comes amidst a wave of criticism for the President’s infamous friendship with sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. Buried under a mountain of evidence discrediting their arguments, the White House has been valiantly trying to draw attention away from the issue. Still, new evidence continues to emerge in the media cycle.

Trump and Epstein had a well-documented friendship in the 1990s and early 2000s, with Epstein claiming to be Trump's “closest friend” and Trump consistently and publicly complimenting the financier, while mentioning the sexual proclivities of both.

Since Epstein’s arrest, Trump has been working to distance himself from his once-chum. But to no avail. Evidence continues to be found, as the Trump administration sits on unreleased files that bear Trump’s name throughout, according to a report provided to the White House by the Department of Justice.

Trump ran on a campaign promising to release the files once his return to office was confirmed, but now, more than 10% into his second term, the files still lie unreleased. Donald Trump had a scrape with legal trouble during his first term, facing impeachment and multiple active court cases in New York, but managed to slip through unscathed. His administration may view this situation differently.