Who are the artists behind statue of Trump and Epstein titled ‘Best Friends Forever’ on National Mall?

This week, a controversial statue of President Donald Trump and the late Jeffrey Epstein appeared on the National Mall, drawing a lot of attention. The bronze display showed the two holding hands and had a plaque that talked about their "bond." But less than 24 hours later, U.S. Park Police took it down because it didn't have the right permits.

What was the Trump and Epstein statue about?

The statue showed Trump and Epstein, who were known to hang out together decades ago, holding hands in a happy-looking way. There was a plaque below the figures that said, "In honor of friendship month, we celebrate the long-standing bond between President Donald J. Trump and his closest friend Jeffrey Epstein.”

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The plaque also had a heart-shaped outline of two hands, which added to the installation's provocative tone, as per a report by Washingtonian.

Why was the statue removed?

Even though the National Park Service gave permission for the display to stay up until 8 p.m. on September 28, the U.S. Park Police took down the statue around 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Officials said the statue had to be taken down because it "didn't follow the rules of the permit," but they didn't give any more information. The installation had been given full-time security, as per a report by Washingtonian.

Park Police informed WUSA9 that it had been taken down for violating the permit, but they did not elaborate on the specifics of the infraction.

The permit does contain a provision allowing for its revocation at any moment, provided that the permittee is informed of the reason at least twenty-four hours beforehand, as per a report by WUSA9.

This display came after a number of other anonymous art pieces that made fun of Trump on the Mall in recent years. One showed him as "Dictator Approved," and another showed a video of him dancing on repeat. Abigail Jackson, a spokesperson for the White House, said the group's work was a waste of money, but she didn't say that the administration wanted it to be taken down.

Who are the artists behind statue of Trump and Epstein on National Mall?

The statue's sudden appearance brought up the issue of the conflict between anonymous political art installations and the government's control over public spaces.

The National Park Service granted permission for the statue, the most recent in a series of displays of this type erected on the Mall by a group of unidentified artists, to remain in place until 8 PM on September 28.

The artists' names are still a mystery, but their work continues to make headlines by mixing satire with strong political criticism, as per a report by Washingtonian.

What is the history of the link between Trump and Epstein?

The statue brought back to people's minds Trump's past ties to Epstein. Trump has tried to distance himself from the disgraced financier, but pictures and news reports show that they are connected. In 2003, Trump gave Epstein a drawing of a woman's torso for his birthday, according to The Washington Post. Even though the note had his signature on it, Trump has said he didn't write it.

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The Trump-Epstein statue, like the ones that came before it, didn't stay up for long, but it was up long enough to get people talking about free speech, public art, and the complicated legacy of Trump's past relationships. Taking it down shows how hard and controversial it is to mix politics, art, and public spaces in Washington, D.C.

FAQs

Why was the statue of Trump and Epstein taken down?
The U.S. Park Police took it down because it didn't follow its permit.


Who put up the Trump and Epstein statue?
A group of anonymous artists who did not want to be named put up the statue.