U.S. Park Police removes controversial Trump-Epstein statue from National Mall

On September 24, 2025, a bronze statue depicting President Donald Trump and late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was unveiled on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The statue, titled "Best Friends Forever," was created by an anonymous group known as The Secret Handshake and showed the two figures holding hands with a smiling expression. Early the next morning, U.S. Park Police removed the statue, asserting that it was not compliant with the permit issued for its display. The statue's creation was part of a larger trend of politically charged art installations that have targeted Donald Trump and his associations. Critics of Trump have often used similar artistic expressions to highlight various issues related to his presidency and personal connections. The incident followed a permit claiming that the statue was within allowed height limits; however, Park Police stated that it violated the permit regulations. The group behind the statue felt that they were unfairly targeted and expressed their belief that the Trump administration was attempting to suppress free speech. The plaque on the statue sought to draw attention to Trump’s association with Epstein, which dates back to the early 1990s when both men moved in the same social and business circles in affluent locations like Palm Beach and New York City. The White House reacted to the installation by emphasizing that Trump had distanced himself from Epstein, suggesting that the association had been overstated by critics. This led to discussions on various social media platforms about the nature of political expression through art and the rights to freedom of speech in the United States. This incident has reignited a national conversation around freedom of expression, especially in the context of political parody and criticism. Supporters of the statue and critics of Trump argue that such installations are vital to challenging and holding powerful individuals accountable. The removal of the statue on September 25, 2025, was seen by some as a blow to artistic expression and a suggestion of a deeper connection between political power and censorship in the country. As the debate continues, there are increasing calls from various sides for transparency regarding the investigations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to influential figures, including Donald Trump.