On the National Mall, ‘Democracy’ drips in daylight

Ben Cohen, of Ben & Jerry’s, helped bring a 3,000-pound ice sculpture to the capital as a warning that “democracy is melting away before our very eyes.”

The Washington Post
A provocative bronze statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands has resurfaced on the National Mall, just a week after its removal by the National Park Service for lacking a permit. Created by the anonymous art collective Secret Handshake, the piece—now titled “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”—draws attention with its satirical take on their controversial relationship. Despite being broken apart during removal, the statue was restored near the Capitol, drawing crowds and sparking conversation. As public art pushes boundaries, will this latest installation spark debate or further removals? More: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/us/donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-statue-washington.html?unlocked_article_code=1.qk8.nI5J.rTes-c_tJzf3&smid=nytcore-android-share #Trump #Epstein #NationalMall #PublicArt #Satire #WashingtonDC
Statue of Trump and Epstein Holding Hands Returns to National Mall

The statue, titled “Best Friends Forever,” was reinstalled after it was removed last week. An anonymous group of artists has taken credit for the work.

The New York Times
Trump gets BRUTALLY embarrassed by new political art installation erected in front of the Capitol on the #NationalMall, featuring bronze figures of him and longtime pal #JeffreyEpstein frolicking together. #JohnIadarola and #SharonReed break it down on #TheDamageReport. youtu.be/WXMWaQwRLO4?...

Trump BURNED As Embarrassing N...
Trump BURNED As Embarrassing New Epstein Capitol Statue Revealed

YouTube

#Trump admin has #epstein handshake statue toppled this morning on the #NationalMall

#EpsteinTrumpFiles

Whomever these #SecretHandshake people are, I hope they have backup plans.

The #fuhrer is getting desperate. He's bullying #Disney, he's TRYING to bully the #UN. He WILL want these people tracked down and "deported."

https://www.npr.org/2025/09/24/nx-s1-5552505/trump-epstein-statue-removed-national-mall

#Authoritarianism
#USPol
#NationalMall
#DonaldTrump
#JefferyEpstein

Someone spent a LOT of time AND money to erect something that will get dismantled in minutes.

Don't get me wrong, it WAS worth it. I just wish they did it somewhere it won't get destroyed so quickly.

#SecretHandshake
#NationalMall
#UsPol
#DonaldTrump
#JefferyEpstein

Eine 12-Fuß-Statue von Präsident Trump und Jeffrey Epstein, die Hand in Hand vor dem US-Kapitol tanzen, sorgt für Aufsehen. Das Kunstwerk, begleitet von kontroversen Plaques, beleuchtet ihre umstrittene Verbindung und steht symbolisch für den Epstein-Files-Skandal. Mehr dazu: https://www.watson.ch/international/usa/331146828-trump-statue-vor-kapitol-aufgetaucht-hand-in-hand-mit-epstein 🗽🤝 #Trump #Epstein #Skandal #NationalMall #Kunstkritik
#newz
Trump-Statue vor Kapitol aufgetaucht: Hand in Hand mit Epstein

Hatte Donald Trump nun engere Verbindungen zum Sexhandel und Missbrauch minderjähriger Kinder im System Jeffrey Epstein? Jetzt ist eine neue Statue aufgetaucht.

watson

"In honor of Friendship Month 🫶" - today at the #NationalMall in #WashingtonDC

#Satire #Protest #Art #FreeSpeech #DonaldTrump #JeffreyEpstein

Statue of #Trump & #Epstein holding hands placed on #NationalMall

A spray-painted bronze statue titled “#BestFriendsForever” that depicts Trump & #JeffreyEpstein holding hands was placed on the National Mall in front of the US Capitol early Tuesday. The work is the latest in a series of politically charged sculptures critical of Trump that have been placed in Washington & elsewhere by an anonymous group of artists.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/09/23/trump-epstein-statue-national-mall/

Statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands placed on National Mall

The work is the latest installation in Washington by an anonymous group of artists critical of the president.

The Washington Post

Protest art of #Trump, #Epstein holding hands appears on #NationalMall

Kathryn Palmer, September 23, 2025

"As President Donald Trump was preparing to speak to the United Nations in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 23, a statue of the Republican leader mysteriously appeared on the National Mall back in Washington, DC.

"Unlike the gilded installation of the president unveiled last week that praised his support of cryptocurrency, this most recent statue is not of the flattering sort. The 12-foot piece depicts the president holding hands with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, each looking at the other and smiling. They are both shown balancing on one leg, in the middle of what the piece's creators describe as a prance.

"In one of three plaques affixed to the work's base, which is painted to look like marble, an inscription reads: "We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his 'closest friend' Jeffrey Epstein."

"A group called The Secret Handshake Project is taking credit for the surprise protest art piece, which is the third such anti-Trump installation to pop up in the capital since June. The group also erected the so-called 'Dictator Approved' piece, an 8-foot-tall sculpture of a hand squashing the crown of the Statue of Liberty while making a thumbs-up gesture; and the 'Gold TV statue' multimedia installation, in which a golden TV showed images of Trump dancing, including with Epstein.' "

Read more:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/09/23/trump-epstein-protest-art-national-mall/86310895007/

#ProtestArt #FriendshipMonth #EpsteinFiles #TrumpEpstein #USPol

Protest art of Trump, Epstein holding hands appears on National Mall

It is the third anti-Trump art installation from a group called The Secret Handshake Project to pop up on the National Mall in as many months.

USA TODAY