A new satirical statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein as the lovers from the film Titanic has been installed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The nearly 12-foot golden sculpture, titled 'King of the World', shows Trump standing behind Epstein with arms outstretched, facing the Washington Monument, mounted on a replica of the ship's bow.
The statue is the third piece of guerrilla art by the anonymous collective The Secret Handshake, which has previously erected statues of the pair in the capital. Plaques accompanying the installation comment on their past association, referencing 'luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches'. Nearby banners display a photograph of Trump and Epstein together with the slogan 'Make America Safe Again', with the word 'Justice' redacted from the Department of Justice insignia.
The White House condemned the display, with deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson questioning whether wealthy Democrat donors would create similar sculptures of Democrats linked to Epstein. Trump has repeatedly stated he was 'totally exonerated' by the release of Epstein-related records and has denied knowledge of Epstein's criminal behaviour.
Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. The artists reportedly used intermediaries to secure permits from the National Park Service, and the end date of the permit has been blacked out, leaving the statue's duration unclear.
