Trump Officials Remove Epstein Statue in Overnight Capitol Incident, Prompting Free-Speech Debate
A 12-foot bronze statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein was removed overnight by U.S. Park Police for permit violations, drawing criticism from Democrats and allies who say the action blocks free speech.
In a move officials described as enforcing a permit, U.S. Park Police removed a 12-foot bronze statue depicting President Donald J. Trump and Jeffrey Epstein from the Capitol Mall during overnight hours on Tuesday. The sculpture, titled Best Friends Forever, appeared in the early morning and showed Trump and Epstein smiling at each other while holding hands. The sculpture was installed by a group identifying itself as The Secret Handshake, which said it obtained a permit from the National Park Service to place the statue.
The group said the permit allowed installation and reception of the statue, but an Interior Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the statue was removed "because it was not compliant with the permit issued," without detailing how it violated the permit. A member of the Secret Handshake told NPR that "some people within the parks department aka most likely the Trump administration were trying to find ways to say we were not in compliance." The individual spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation from the Trump White House.
Park Police removed the statue on Wednesday morning and hauled it away; photos later emerged showing the statue in pieces after removal. A spokesperson for the Interior Department did not respond to a request for further detail. A spokesperson for the White House told the Daily Mail that the administration had previously criticized the bronze artwork, saying, "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," said White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson on Wednesday.
The incident comes as Republicans and Democrats grapple with the political fallout of Trump's ties to Epstein. Democrats and rogue Republicans on Capitol Hill are pressuring the FBI to release all files related to investigations into Epstein. On Tuesday, a special election in Arizona provided Rep. Thomas Massie the 218th House member needed to trigger a vote on the Epstein files release, a pursuit Massie says he will pursue despite drawing the ire of the president. The president has repeatedly labeled the Epstein matter a "Democratic hoax." A Wall Street Journal report later cited a conversation in which Attorney General Pam Bondi complained about criticism she faced over the DOJ and FBI's handling of Epstein files, and the president told her to "buck up."