The White House Responds After Statue of Trump Holding Hands with Epstein Appears in DC

A statue showing President Donald Trump holding hands with Jeffrey Epstein appeared Tuesday near the National Mall, drawing immediate attention from visitors and setting off a storm of reactions online.

The bronze-colored figures, placed just steps from the White House, depict Trump and the late financier smiling and frolicking as if caught in a playful moment. At the base of the installation, a plaque declares: "In Honor of Friendship Month, which falls in September. We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his 'closest friend,' Jeffrey Epstein."

The display quickly attracted crowds, with many people stopping to take photos and videos. Some onlookers described the piece as offensive and disrespectful, while others praised it as daring political art. Images of the statue spread rapidly on social media, where the split in opinion was just as sharp.

Trump did not hold back in his response. A White House spokesperson said, "Liberals are free to waste their money however they see fit, but it is not news that Epstein knew Donald Trump, because Donald Trump kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep."

The president has acknowledged in past interviews that he once knew Epstein socially, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s. He has consistently said he severed ties after learning of inappropriate behavior involving young women at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has also claimed Epstein was banned from his Palm Beach property, and his team repeated that point again Tuesday.

The group behind the artwork has not revealed its identity, although the installation includes the name "The Secret Handshake." No organizers have stepped forward to take credit.

By Tuesday afternoon, the statue had become one of the most shared topics online. Some visitors posed for selfies in front of the figures, while critics demanded their removal. Officials had not announced whether the statue would remain in place or be taken down.

The unusual installation, set up without official authorization, ensured that the relationship between Trump and Epstein, once acknowledged by the president himself, returned to the public spotlight in the heart of the nation's capital.