Overview

• The statue appeared early Tuesday on the National Mall, showing President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands beside three plaques.
• An anonymous collective known as the Secret Handshake claimed credit, describing the 12‑foot figures as built from wood, foam, and resin.
• Two plaques reproduce excerpts from a birthday note attributed to Trump that surfaced in Epstein’s “birthday book,” which Trump and the White House deny he authored or signed.
• A White House spokesperson criticized the artwork and repeated Trump’s claim that he expelled Epstein from his club for “being a creep.”
• Organizers said the work is temporary and will remain only for a few days, as pressure continues for broader disclosure of Epstein files following recent releases and a July DOJ memo rejecting any so‑called client list.