A striking statue portraying Donald Trump alongside Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, has resurfaced in Washington, D.C., following its removal by authorities just last week.
This bronze-colored sculpture, initially named “Best Friends Forever” but later retitled “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”, was reinstated on Thursday at the National Mall, situated mere steps from the iconic Capitol building.
The installation was carried out by a covert group of satirical artists calling themselves “The Secret Handshake.” They claim to have secured authorization from the National Park Service (NPS) to place the statue back at its original location on the Mall.
“Much like a toppled Confederate monument that is restored to its public pedestal, the statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has been resurrected to stand proudly once more on the National Mall,” a spokesperson for the collective told The Los Angeles Times.
Standing over 10 feet tall (approximately three meters), the statue was first unveiled on September 24 but was swiftly removed within a day by NPS officials.
The Department of the Interior, which supervises the National Park Service, explained the removal was due to the statue not adhering to the terms of the issued permit, as reported by CNN.
However, a temporary permit allowing the statue’s return was granted on September 30, just before the federal government shutdown commenced, according to CNN’s coverage.
Although the statue sustained damage during its initial removal on September 25, it has since been repaired and restored to its original condition.
The so-called “Epstein files,” referring to the late New York financier who died in prison in 2019 before facing trial on sex trafficking charges, have been a contentious issue shadowing Donald Trump’s second term as president, given their longstanding association.
In July, the Trump administration declared that no new evidence had been found to warrant releasing additional documents or reopening investigations related to Epstein’s case.
Epstein’s death, officially ruled a suicide while awaiting trial for allegedly recruiting underage girls for sexual exploitation, has sparked numerous conspiracy theories among Trump supporters, who speculate he was silenced to protect influential individuals.