By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A 12-foot statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands was erected on the Capitol Mall but was removed by the United States Park Police. The removal, which occurred around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, violated a permit issued by the Department of the Interior (DOI) to the group “The Secret Handshake.” The DOI stated the removal was due to non-compliance with the permit, while “The Secret Handshake” claimed it was a deliberate attempt to suppress free speech related to Trump and the Epstein files. Before its removal, the statue included plaques highlighting the relationship between Trump and Epstein, along with denials of the friendship by Trump himself.
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Trump’s Goons Topple 12-Foot Statue of Him and Epstein. | The 12-foot bronze had got a permit from the federal government—but then vanished. What a story this is. The idea of a 12-foot bronze statue depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands, appearing on the Capitol Mall, is already something. The fact that it was there with a government permit just makes it even more absurdly perfect. And then, poof, it vanishes. It’s like something out of a political satire, isn’t it?
The group responsible, “The Secret Handshake,” had all their ducks in a row, obtaining the necessary permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior. They were authorized to keep the statue on display until a specific date and time. Moreover, the DOI was legally bound to provide a 24-hour notice before removing the statue for any reason. Neither of these things happened. It seems that the rules, and apparently the legal requirements, were simply ignored. The statue was “toppled and broken,” and now, it’s gone.
According to an Interior spokesperson, the statue was removed because it “was not compliant with the permit issued.” However, the spokesperson didn’t provide any specific details. Meanwhile, the White House remained tight-lipped. The Secret Handshake’s spokesperson interpreted the removal as a direct attack on free speech by the Trump administration, stating the administration was afraid of the content within the Epstein files. They felt the statue was a commentary, within the bounds of the law, that was silenced for political reasons.
The whole situation is made even more compelling by the fact that the Trump administration had previously allowed similar installations by “The Secret Handshake” to remain in place. There was the “Dictator Approved” sculpture from earlier, which was actually praised by the White House. So the sudden shift in attitude is quite telling. It makes one wonder what was so different about this particular piece, this statue, that warranted such immediate and, frankly, clumsy action. Perhaps it’s because this statue hit a little too close to the bone, and called the relationship between Trump and Epstein more directly to the public’s awareness.
The reaction to all of this is also interesting. Some folks are already calling for lawsuits, citing violations of the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment. The idea of multiple copies of the statue popping up all over the place has already been floated. The symbolism, of course, is incredibly potent. It’s hard to ignore the irony of conservatives, often quick to defend historical monuments, removing something they don’t like, especially given the controversial figure they portray.
The fact that Trump has denied knowing Epstein well seems at odds with some of the facts. The birthday card, which Trump has denied writing, adds another layer of complexity. The statue, then, feels less like a simple art installation and more like a calculated jab, a pointed commentary on the situation surrounding the Epstein files and the lingering questions of Trump’s involvement.
One of the biggest questions is, where did the statue go? The fact that its location is unknown only adds to the intrigue and speculation. Is it in a hidden storage facility? Has it been melted down? This mystery just adds fuel to the fire of discussion and public interest. And who knows, maybe the statue’s disappearance, and the Trump administration’s response to it, is just what’s needed to bring renewed attention to the Epstein files.
This whole event shows the kind of double standards that often arise in political situations, and it’s something everyone, from all sides of the political spectrum, can agree on. A group of people got a permit, created a piece of art, and it was destroyed, not because of anything illegal, but because of its message. No matter your political leanings, free speech matters, and the idea of someone attempting to silence it in this way doesn’t sit right.