Trump, Epstein depicted in Titanic-style statue installed on Washington’s National Mall

New Delhi: A large satirical statue depicting figures resembling U.S. President Donald Trump and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein appear on the National Mall in Washington.

The sculpture, about 12 feet tall, shows the two figures recreating the famous bow scene from the 1997 film “Titanic,” widely known as the “King of the World” pose. 

An anonymous artist collective calling itself “Secret Handshake” installs the statue as a form of protest art. The group says the work aims to highlight the past association between Trump and Epstein and spark public discussion about power, influence and accountability in American politics.

The sculpture places the Trump and Epstein figures at the front of a stylized ship bow modeled on the famous scene in which characters Jack and Rose stand at the prow of the Titanic. A plaque at the base compares the film’s fictional romance to the relationship between the two men, referring to a bond built around “luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches.”

Banners displayed near the installation show photographs of Trump and Epstein alongside the slogan “Make America Safe Again,” adding to the political message surrounding the artwork.

The statue emerges without advance public notice but appears to have been installed with a permit obtained through an intermediary from federal authorities that manage the National Mall.

Federal rules allow temporary protest art on the National Mall if organizers obtain a permit from the National Park Service, which regulates demonstrations while enforcing rules that protect free expression under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Visitors gather throughout the day to photograph the statue and discuss its meaning. Some people say the installation highlights issues surrounding Epstein and his connections to powerful figures. Others criticize it as a politically motivated stunt or disrespectful public display.

The new sculpture marks the latest in a series of provocative artworks by the same anonymous collective. In 2025, the group placed a statue on the National Mall showing Trump and Epstein holding hands under the title “Best Friends Forever,” a piece created to protest the relationship between the two men and allegations linked to Epstein’s network.