‘The Secret Handshake’ statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands removed from the National Mall

On September 24, 2025, the U.S. National Park Service quietly dismantled a controversial work of art that had appeared overnight on the National Mall.  That startling art piece depicted two life‑sized bronze‑spray figures of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, hand in hand and in mid‑dance. The piece, titled “Best Friends Forever,” had been installed with a permit valid through Sunday, but was claimed by authorities to violate size or placement conditions

Anonymously produced by an art collective calling itself The Secret Handshake, the work was intended as both satire and provocation — a pointed commentary on Trump’s past associations with Epstein and public calls for transparency. The installation featured plaques that quoted from a disputed “birthday note” allegedly written by Trump to Epstein, further inflaming the symbolism.

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A plaque on the statue, titled “Best Friends Forever,” read: “In Honor of Friendship Month we celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein.” Below the figures were two additional plaques that quoted the birthday message to Epstein on his 50th birthday, attributed to Trump, that was revealed by Democrats on the U.S. House Oversight Committee. ~ MSNBC

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The statue was removed just hours before dawn: park police loaded the statues onto a truck, reportedly destroying parts of it in the process. The artists claim they were never given the 24‑hour notice required under the permit, calling the midnight takedown an act of censorship.

Though brief, the stunt sparked fierce debate: Is public space a stage for guerrilla art? Or did the Trump administration once again overstep silencing dissent? One thing is certain — the image of Trump and Epstein dancing off the Mall will linger long after the bronze is gone.

For more on the “Best Friends Forever” statue by The Secret Handshake, see the video accompanying this article.

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(Additional sources: The Washington Post, The Independent, Reuters, UPI, KPBS)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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