Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(66,850 posts)
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 09:39 AM Wednesday

Trump-Epstein 'friendship' statue removed from National Mall one day after it appeared

Source: WUSA9

POLITICS
Trump-Epstein 'friendship' statue removed from National Mall one day after it appeared

A statue of Trump and Epstein was removed from the National Mall by U.S. Park Police, despite a permit allowing it to remain until Sept. 28.

Author: Sophie Rosenthal
Published: 8:07 AM EDT September 24, 2025
Updated: 8:20 AM EDT September 24, 2025

WASHINGTON -- As quickly as it appeared, it is gone. The statue of President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein has been hauled off of the National Mall.

Tuesday morning, the statue depicting the president and the late disgraced financier and sex offender holding hands and skipping showed up on the National Mall. The statue's plaque said, "In honor of friendship month, we celebrate the long-standing bond between President Donald J. Trump and his closest friend Jeffrey Epstein."

But Wednesday morning, U.S. Park Police removed the statue around 5:30 a.m. Reddit user Are-you-a-vegetable caught the act in a video posted to the Washington, D.C. subreddit.

A permit for the statue said it is allowed to remain on the mall until 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. Park Police told WUSA9 that it was removed for not being in compliance with the permit, but they did not explain how it violated the permit.

The permit does include a clause that it can be revoked at any time as long as the permittee was notified of the reason at least 24 hours in advance.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/trump-epstein-statue-removed-national-mall/65-f509c666-6627-447e-9726-e8886b843123



US Park Police Remove Statue of Donald Trump and Jeffery Epstein

https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1np7z0z/us_park_police_remove_statue_of_donald_trump_and/

—————

Reposted by Aseeyeomanaseetomanoyo Hat
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

A statue of Trump and Epstein was removed from the National Mall by U.S. Park Police, despite a permit allowing it to remain until Sept. 28

Phil Lewis (@phillewis.bsky.social) 2025-09-24T13:08:47.732Z


******
Phil Lewis
‪@phillewis.bsky.social‬

A statue of Trump and Epstein was removed from the National Mall by U.S. Park Police, despite a permit allowing it to remain until Sept. 28

Trump-Epstein 'friendship' statue removed from National Mall one day after it appeared
A statue of Trump and Epstein was removed from the National Mall by U.S. Park Police, despite a permit allowing it to remain until Sept. 28.
www.wusa9.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:08 AM
******

----------

https://www.democraticunderground.com/104411781

DC News Now: Pop-up statue of Trump and Epstein appears on National Mall
22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump-Epstein 'friendship' statue removed from National Mall one day after it appeared (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Wednesday OP
Of course they did... travelingthrulife Wednesday #1
The most important part: A statue of Trump and Epstein was removed from the National Mall by Bengus81 Wednesday #2
If and when we win back the WH, these bootlickers should be the first to be fired wolfie001 Wednesday #3
That caught my eye, too. Grins Wednesday #9
It looked a bit on the gay side. Maybe that is why. twodogsbarking Wednesday #4
Well, if the king's feelings are hurt I guess that's reason enough, right? slightlv Wednesday #5
It needs to be placed in front of trump's Miami "library." (nt) Paladin Wednesday #6
Put it on public access BidenRocks Wednesday #16
What an Rebl2 Wednesday #7
We do know now, however, that escalators will stop when the weight limit is exceeded. twodogsbarking Wednesday #8
They should sell copies. Kid Berwyn Wednesday #10
Interesting. OrwellwasRight Wednesday #11
You apparently missed this part Wiz Imp Wednesday #15
No I saw that, but OrwellwasRight Friday #20
But you said it was DEINITELY a free speech violation before. Wiz Imp Friday #21
Yes, because OrwellwasRight Friday #22
It wasn't a very good statue angryxyouth Wednesday #12
We all know the reason it wa removed. Ray Bruns Wednesday #13
Such a shame, it was so sweet. twodogsbarking Wednesday #14
"Trump Admin destroyed Epstein Handshake statue this morning!" mahatmakanejeeves Wednesday #17
A statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands in D.C. is removed as fast as it appeared mahatmakanejeeves Wednesday #18
It's a joyous work of art! Aussie105 Thursday #19

Bengus81

(9,450 posts)
2. The most important part: A statue of Trump and Epstein was removed from the National Mall by
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 09:48 AM
Wednesday

U.S. Park Police, despite a permit allowing it to remain until Sept. 28.

wolfie001

(6,223 posts)
3. If and when we win back the WH, these bootlickers should be the first to be fired
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 09:54 AM
Wednesday

Through executive action.

Grins

(8,901 posts)
9. That caught my eye, too.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 10:24 AM
Wednesday

As well as the Park Service not providing an explanation why the permit was violated. (Yeah; we know why...)

slightlv

(6,619 posts)
5. Well, if the king's feelings are hurt I guess that's reason enough, right?
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 10:13 AM
Wednesday

Permits be damned! It's only on the PEOPLE'S Parkland!

Rebl2

(17,017 posts)
7. What an
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 10:15 AM
Wednesday

odd statue. Who commissioned that I wonder, and why in the world would they be skipping. Very odd in my opinion.

OrwellwasRight

(5,267 posts)
11. Interesting.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 10:38 AM
Wednesday

This is definitely a free speech violation. I was once involved in some "protest art." When the powers we protested against decided they didn't like our messages, they painted over them. The ACLU helped us out and we got permission to repaint the protest art. All of which to say, if you have a permit, the permit must be viewpoint neutral. These people have no sense whatsoever that government is supposed to work for all of us--the rules have to apply the same way to everyone. Government is not a tool for revenge and must not be a tool for one person with extremely thin skin.

Wiz Imp

(7,519 posts)
15. You apparently missed this part
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 12:42 PM
Wednesday

The permit does include a clause that it can be revoked at any time as long as the permittee was notified of the reason at least 24 hours in advance.

It will probably get more attention by being removed than it did just for being there.

OrwellwasRight

(5,267 posts)
20. No I saw that, but
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 01:52 AM
Friday

It’s not clear the story whether they did the notice. And the notice has to be accompanied by a reason, and therefore the reason has to be legal. The park service would not be allowed to say “we’re removing it because the president is insulted,” because that would be a free speech violation. So it’s still a problem.

Wiz Imp

(7,519 posts)
21. But you said it was DEINITELY a free speech violation before.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 09:36 AM
Friday

Now you say it's not clear whether they did the notice, and the notice has to be accompanied by a reason, and therefore the reason has to be legal. In other words, you're admitting they could have given the notice and it could have been legal. That means it wasn't definitely a free speech violation.

That was my point. No problem if you strongly suspect they removed it without cause (which would be a free speech violation), but since it could have been legally removed, we can't know that for sure.

OrwellwasRight

(5,267 posts)
22. Yes, because
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:29 PM
Friday

If they sent the notice, it would have been reported.
If the notice gave a real reason, it would have been reported.
So, because they didn't, it is definitely a free speech violation.
When you see reporting that proper notice was given and that said notice was not pre-textual, I will take it back. Until then, have a nice day.

angryxyouth

(299 posts)
12. It wasn't a very good statue
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 10:39 AM
Wednesday

The bodies themselves were stiff and not in the right position for skipping. It had no movement in the clothes and Trumps face was terrible. But give them an A for tenacity.

Ray Bruns

(5,621 posts)
13. We all know the reason it wa removed.
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 11:46 AM
Wednesday

“Police told WUSA9 that it was removed for not being in compliance with the permit, but they did not explain how it violated the permit”

mahatmakanejeeves

(66,850 posts)
17. "Trump Admin destroyed Epstein Handshake statue this morning!"
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 05:12 PM
Wednesday
r/washingtondc icon
Go to washingtondc
r/washingtondc
2 hr. ago
kkggooddiie55

Trump Admin destroyed Epstein Handshake statue this morning!
Page 1 (Current page)
Page 2
Page 3

[IT'S HAPPENING!]


Item 1 of 3
Unbelievable!

mahatmakanejeeves

(66,850 posts)
18. A statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands in D.C. is removed as fast as it appeared
Wed Sep 24, 2025, 08:33 PM
Wednesday
POLITICS
A statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands in D.C. is removed as fast as it appeared

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 2:14 PM ET
By Rachel Treisman


A statue depicting President Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands popped up near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

A statue of President Trump holding hands with Jeffrey Epstein appeared briefly on D.C.'s National Mall this week, only to be removed after less than a day. … The bronze-painted installation, titled Best Friends Forever, depicts the two men smiling at each other, each with an arm and leg raised as if in mid-frolic.

{snip}

A group called The Secret Handshake claimed responsibility for the statue after it arrived on the National Mall on Tuesday morning. And while a National Park Service permit issued for the statue — obtained by NPR — allowed it to remain there until Sunday evening, eyewitness video showed U.S. Park Police hauling it onto a truck before sunrise on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior told NPR that the statue was removed "because it was not compliant with the permit issued," though did not specify how. … The Secret Handshake is accusing the Trump administration of illegally removing the statue as part of its crackdown on speech it disagrees with, on the heels of ABC's temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show under pressure from the Federal Communications Commission.

The White House did not respond to NPR's questions about the artwork's removal, but had previously criticized it.

{snip}
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump-Epstein 'friendship...