WASHINGTON – A new piece of protest art appeared on the National Mall at dawn on Tuesday, depicting President Donald Trump hand-in-hand with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The life-size bronze spray-painted figures stand on a low plinth, their clasped hands at the center. A small plaque, bearing the title “In Honor of Friendship Month” explains “We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein.”
Another plaque quotes from the birthday message Trump sent to Epstein saying “Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?”
The artist or collective behind the work contacted the Washington Post who confirmed they did have a permit with the National Park Service for the sculpture through the weekend.
The temporary statue, placed without advance notice, quickly drew a crowd of onlookers and photographers as commuters passed along the gravel paths near the Capitol Reflecting Pool.
This latest installation joins a growing series of politically charged artworks that have surfaced on the Mall over the past few months. Earlier this summer, an anonymous group erected a gilded sculpture of a giant thumbs-up crushing a miniature Statue of Liberty, a piece that stayed in place for several days before being quietly removed.
Another temporary work projected looping video of Trump dancing inside a vintage television set, while still another reimagined the presidential Resolute Desk as a giant cartoonish ‘poop’ caricature.
The White House lashed out at the sculpture, telling TMZ “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.”
