A monumental gold-and-marble throne, complete with a gilded toilet, has been installed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as a pointed critique of former President Donald Trump's priorities during a government shutdown. The art installation, titled 'A Throne Fit For a King,' appeared near the Lincoln Memorial just two days after nationwide 'No Kings' protests, sparking public attention and debate.
Artistic Critique of Presidential Priorities
The provocative sculpture was created by The Secret Handshake, the anonymous art group previously responsible for controversial statues depicting Trump with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Standing at an imposing 10 feet tall, the installation features a plaque that directly references Trump's Truth Social posts from October, in which he boasted about renovating the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House while the government remained shut down for over a month.
'In a time of unprecedented division, escalating conflict, and economic turmoil, President Trump focused on what truly mattered: remodeling the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House,' the plaque declares. It continues with biting sarcasm: 'This, his crowning achievement, is a bold reminder that the President isn't just a businessman, he's taking care of business. It stands as a tribute to an unwavering visionary who looked down, saw a problem, and painted it gold.'
Interactive Art with Political Message
According to The Secret Handshake, who communicated with ARTnews via email, the gilded toilet is not merely for display—visitors can actually sit upon it. The sculpture will remain on the National Mall for several days, though its exact duration has not been specified. The group has also incorporated their logo into the toilet paper featured in the installation, adding another layer of commentary to the piece.
The Independent has reached out to both The Secret Handshake and the White House for comment on the installation, but responses have not yet been made public. This lack of official reaction mirrors the ongoing controversy surrounding Trump's relationship with Epstein, which the former president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in.
History of Controversial Installations
This is not the first time The Secret Handshake has used the National Mall as a canvas for political critique. Their previous work includes:
- 'Best Friends Forever,' a sculpture showing Trump and Epstein holding hands, which was installed near the U.S. Capitol before being removed by the National Park Service for permit violations, only to be reinstalled shortly after.
- A large version of Trump's alleged birthday message to Epstein, displayed in January, which Trump has denied sending.
- 'King of the World,' featuring Epstein and Trump recreating the famous Titanic pose, installed earlier this month on the National Mall.
These installations consistently explore themes of power, privilege, and scandal, with 'A Throne Fit For a King' focusing specifically on what the artists perceive as misplaced priorities during a critical period of governance.
Context of Trump-Epstein Relationship
The backdrop to these artistic statements is the well-documented friendship between Trump and Epstein in the 1990s. Trump has maintained that he had a falling out with Epstein in the early 2000s, claiming the disgraced financier 'stole' young women from the Mar-a-Lago spa. Despite these assertions, the relationship continues to fuel public speculation and artistic response, as seen in The Secret Handshake's ongoing project series.
As the gold toilet sculpture draws crowds and commentary on the National Mall, it serves as a tangible reminder of the intersection between art, politics, and public memory in contemporary American discourse.
