Statue of Trump and Epstein displayed in Washington
A statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, placed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., has sparked polarization among the public. The approximately 3.5-meter-tall work, which references a scene from the film 'Titanic,' contains satirical messages.
12punto
In Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, an unidentified art collective installed a striking statue in the National Mall area on Tuesday morning. In this work, painted entirely in gold, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 and was known for his sex crimes, are depicted together in a manner similar to the iconic scene from the film “Titanic.” The work is approximately 3.6 meters tall, and Trump is seen standing directly behind Epstein on a platform resembling the bow of a ship. The statue faces the Washington Monument, one of the city's landmarks, with a large portion of it.
There is a notable message on the plaque at the base of the statue. Additionally, 10 separate banners featuring photos of Trump and Epstein together were displayed along the path between the artwork and the Capitol building. While these banners used the slogan “Make America Safe Again” and the U.S. Department of Justice logo, the word “Justice” was specifically crossed out.
Such installations are not the first attempt by this artist group. Last September, they depicted Trump and Epstein walking hand-in-hand in a bronze statue titled “Best Friends.” In January, they displayed a giant copy of a note allegedly written in Trump’s handwriting in a birthday book prepared for Epstein.
It was reported that the artists obtained the necessary permits for the work indirectly through the National Park Service. However, there is no date on the permit document regarding when the latest exhibition will end.
The statue quickly drew intense interest from Washington residents and visitors. While one group believes the work is provocative, some citizens state that they find it important in terms of freedom of expression and political criticism. Nick Smith from Navy Yard evaluated the work by saying, “I love that these kinds of works appear to remind people of what is going on. This statue is a little funnier than the others.” Donna Powell, who lives in Washington, commented, “Art can say a lot,” expressing that the work has reignited discussions about Epstein. However, some families visiting from Pennsylvania stated that they found the statue disturbing, especially while touring with their children.
The area has been known as one of the centers of protest art for years. Near the Trump and Epstein statue, thousands of blue flags displayed to raise awareness for colon cancer also draw attention. On the other hand, there is no clear information yet on how long the new statue will remain on the National Mall.