By Yuvraj Tyagi
Copyright timesnownews
A new statue featuring former President Donald Trump and late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands appeared on the National Mall early Tuesday morning. The 12-foot sculpture, crafted from foam, resin, wood, and wire, depicts the two men smiling at each other as if walking toward the Washington Monument. According to a spokesperson for The Secret Handshake, the anonymous group behind the installation, the piece is meant to “celebrate the friendship of these real men” and will remain on the Mall until Saturday (The Independent, September 23, 2025). The statue includes three plaques, two of which display excerpts from a controversial birthday letter allegedly written by Trump to Epstein for his 50th birthday. A copy of the letter, featuring a hand-drawn figure of a naked woman and Trump’s reported signature, was recently released by the House Oversight Committee. Trump has denied any involvement with the letter and is currently suing the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion over its publication of the alleged correspondence. Historical Context of Trump and Epstein’s Relationship The friendship between Trump and Epstein is well-documented. They were frequently photographed together in the 1990s and early 2000s, including at Trump’s 1993 wedding to Marla Maples (New York Magazine, 2002). Epstein, in recordings obtained by Daily Beast, referred to himself as Trump’s “closest friend,” while Trump once described Epstein as a “terrific guy.” Their relationship reportedly ended in the mid-2000s after Trump accused Epstein of stealing young female employees from his private club. The White House quickly criticised the statue, with a spokesperson stating: “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” (The Independent, September 23, 2025). Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from Epstein in recent months, calling him a “creep” and noting he had not communicated with him for 15 years following Epstein’s arrest on sex trafficking charges in 2019. Public Reaction and Legal Context While the president has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, his association has been scrutinised, particularly after the DOJ released a memo ending conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s 2019 death. The FBI concluded there is no evidence of a “client list” involving wealthy or famous figures in Epstein’s alleged trafficking, and no further disclosure was deemed necessary (Department of Justice, 2025). The statue’s appearance reignites debates about Trump’s historical connections and the broader Epstein Files saga, drawing both public fascination and political controversy. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.