Washington( The COW News Digital)Authorities in Washington, D.C., have removed a controversial statue depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from the National Mall.
The sculpture, titled “Best Friends Forever,” showed Trump and Epstein smiling and holding hands, a provocative reference to their past friendship. The artwork was installed on September 23 by a collective of anonymous artists known as “The Secret Handshake.”
By the morning of September 24, U.S. Park Police had taken down the statue, citing a violation of the terms under which it had been placed. Officials stated that the installation did not have the necessary long-term permit required for displays on federal property.
According to reports, the artists intended the piece as a political commentary highlighting the historic association between Trump and Epstein. Both men were known to have socialized together for several years before Epstein’s 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges.
Epstein was later found dead in a New York jail cell under mysterious circumstances, which sparked widespread conspiracy theories about his death.
The removal of the statue has sparked a debate on social media, with some users praising authorities for taking it down, while others viewed it as suppression of artistic expression and political dissent.
This is not the first time politically charged guerrilla art installations have appeared on the National Mall. In the past, activists and artists have used similar methods to draw attention to social and political issues, sometimes resulting in swift removal by authorities.
The Secret Handshake collective has not yet issued a public statement regarding the removal, but supporters expect more installations in the future aimed at provoking public debate.
