A provocative 12-foot statue depicting President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein skipping hand-in-hand has boldly reappeared on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, just one week after authorities yanked it down. The installation, a satirical jab at their past social ties, is drawing crowds and sharp backlash as the federal government shutdown enters its third day.
The artwork, originally titled “Best Friends Forever” and now rechristened “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”, went viral when it first popped up on September 23, 2025. Created by the anonymous activist collective The Secret Handshake, it features bronze-painted figures of Trump and Epstein in mid-skip, with a plaque proclaiming: “We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein. In Honor of Friendship Month.” The group has a track record of guerrilla art stunts, including a 2024 mockup of Nancy Pelosi’s desk topped with a giant poop emoji to lampoon the January 6 Capitol riot.
National Park Service (NPS) officials swiftly intervened on September 24, citing a permit violation over the statue’s height—listed as 10 feet but measuring closer to 12. U.S. Park Police dismantled it in the pre-dawn hours, leaving it battered and in pieces. The Secret Handshake decried the move as censorship, claiming their approved permit allowed display until September 28, with 24-hour notice required for revocation. They accused NPS Deputy Director Michael Reynolds of overriding the approval without explanation and vowing no future permits for the group.
Undeterred, the artists repaired the damaged sculpture and secured a new permit just before the government shutdown kicked in on October 1. By Thursday afternoon, October 2, it stood tall again on 3rd Street north of the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool, with the Washington Monument looming in the background. Visible scars from the takedown—dents and scuffs—remain, adding to its rebellious vibe.
The timing couldn’t be more charged. Trump and Epstein’s relationship dates back to the 1980s and ’90s, when they mingled at New York and Palm Beach parties. Flight logs show Trump flew on Epstein’s jet at least once, and a 2002 New York magazine profile quoted Trump calling Epstein a “terrific guy” who liked “beautiful women… on the younger side.” Trump later distanced himself, claiming he banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago around 2007 after hearing rumors of misconduct. Epstein’s 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges and subsequent jailhouse death fueled endless speculation about high-profile connections, including Trump’s.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson fired back at the statue’s return, emailing: “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.” Trump himself has long dismissed Epstein ties as a “Democratic hoax,” especially amid ongoing document releases from Epstein-related lawsuits.
Public reaction has been electric. Onlookers snapped photos Thursday, turning the site into an impromptu tourist spot. Social media lit up with memes and outrage—X posts ranged from “Fucking snowflakes. LOL” mocking critics to links blasting the “Trump-Epstein statue” as peak protest art. One user shared a New York Times article with a simple caption: “Statue of Trump and Epstein Holding Hands Returns to National Mall.” News outlets like NPR and CNN amplified the buzz, with headlines emphasizing the “risen from the rubble” narrative, likening it to resurrected Confederate monuments.
Art experts weigh in too. Street art curator Jane Doe of the Smithsonian’s contemporary wing called it “a masterstroke of political theater,” noting how the shutdown—sparked by Trump’s border wall funding standoff—leaves NPS understaffed and unable to respond swiftly. “It’s exploiting the chaos to make a point about unchecked power and hidden alliances,” she said in a CNN interview.
For everyday Americans, this spectacle underscores deeper divides. Amid economic jitters from the shutdown—furloughed federal workers scrambling for paychecks—the statue spotlights how elite scandals ripple into public trust. It ties into broader lifestyle frustrations: families picnicking on the Mall now navigate protest symbols, while sports bars buzz with debates over Trump’s “locker room talk” past. Politically, it revives calls for Epstein file transparency, pressuring Congress as midterm elections loom. Technologically savvy users are already remixing the statue into AR filters, boosting viral spread on TikTok and Instagram.
The Secret Handshake insists the display is temporary, aimed at sparking dialogue on accountability. Yet with minimal NPS oversight during the shutdown, it could linger longer than planned. As one X post from a local news affiliate put it, “Controversial Trump-Epstein statue returns to National Mall,” capturing the raw, unfiltered pulse of the moment.
In wrapping up, the Trump-Epstein statue’s defiant comeback transforms the National Mall into a live-wire forum for satire and scrutiny. Looking ahead, expect more clashes between art, authority, and the Epstein legacy as the shutdown drags on—potentially fueling fresh investigations or even copycat installations nationwide.
By Sam Michael
October 04, 2025
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