Ten Foot Trump Epstein Birthday Card Statue Sparks Outcry

Early Monday morning, as the winter sun crept over the U.S. Capitol, a striking new installation appeared on the National Mall in Washington, DC—a ten-foot-tall replica of a birthday card allegedly sent by President Donald Trump to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The work, towering and impossible to ignore, is the latest in a series of provocative public artworks by a group known as The Secret Handshake. Its timing, location, and subject matter have reignited debate over Trump’s past associations and the ongoing controversy surrounding the slow release of government files relating to Epstein’s criminal case.

The installation, which went up overnight on January 18-19, 2026, stands across from the U.S. Capitol at 3rd Street between Madison and Jefferson Drive. On one side, a crude sketch of a nude woman frames a letter with the typed name "Donald J. Trump" and a scrawled “Donald” signature. The message reads: "We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret." The other side of the card, festooned with balloon illustrations, proclaims: "Happy Birthday to a 'Terrific Guy!'" Epstein’s birthday, notably, falls on January 20.

Beside the giant card sits a smaller statue: a stack of boxes, each marked to represent the troves of redacted government files that have become a focal point in the Epstein saga. A nearby plaque invites passersby to "sign the card with your own message to the administration," offering markers for that very purpose. The Secret Handshake, in a statement, encouraged visitors to participate but warned that violent or offensive content would be removed. The display, permitted until Friday, January 23, is the latest salvo in a long-running artistic campaign against the Trump administration and its handling of the Epstein case.

The origins of the card's message trace back to a 2003 book of birthday wishes compiled for Epstein by his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The note, released by House Democrats on the Oversight Committee in September 2025, quickly became a lightning rod. According to CNN and The Wall Street Journal, Trump has vehemently denied penning the letter, calling it "false, malicious, and defamatory." The president even went so far as to sue The Wall Street Journal over its reporting. Trump has suggested that someone else could have written and signed the note in his name, and he has consistently denied any close relationship with Epstein.

Despite the denials, the card’s content—especially its suggestive tone—has kept the controversy alive. The Secret Handshake’s installation is far from their first foray into politically charged art. In the fall of 2025, the group erected a statue titled “Best Friends Forever,” depicting Trump and Epstein holding hands and skipping. The piece appeared on the National Mall, was quickly removed by U.S. Park Police for a permit violation, reappeared days later, and was eventually displayed at various locations around Washington, DC, including in front of the Busboys and Poets cafe. Other works by the collective have included a golden hand crushing the Statue of Liberty’s crown and a bronze tiki torch lampooning Trump’s defense of the 2017 Charlottesville rally marchers.

The timing of the current installation is no accident. January 20, 2026, marks both Epstein’s birthday and the one-year anniversary of Trump’s second inauguration. According to The Independent, a spokesperson for The Secret Handshake explained, “As the release of the Epstein files continues to remain [a] pressing issue, we felt it only appropriate to celebrate the birthday of the man himself.” The group’s intent, it seems, is to keep the public’s attention trained on unanswered questions about Epstein, his network, and the figures—Trump included—who once moved in his circles.

Indeed, the slow drip of information has only fueled public suspicion. Legislation passed in the fall of 2025 mandated that the federal government release all files related to Epstein’s criminal case by December 19, 2025. Yet, as of January 2026, the Justice Department has released just 12,285 documents—less than 1% of the total—while more than 2 million files remain under review. Lawmakers from both parties have grown increasingly frustrated. Representatives Ro Khanna (Democrat) and Thomas Massie (Republican), the original co-sponsors of the release legislation, recently filed a request to intervene in the criminal case of Ghislaine Maxwell, asking for a special master to oversee the process. On Capitol Hill, the push for transparency has become a rare point of bipartisan agreement, even as it causes headaches for the Trump administration.

Trump, for his part, has expressed exasperation at the continued scrutiny. According to reporting by The Independent, the president has privately urged Republicans to drop the issue, arguing that “people like him who ‘innocently met’ Epstein” are being embarrassed by the release of old photos and correspondence. Nevertheless, the House Oversight Committee remains focused on the case, and public interest shows no sign of waning. Trump has repeatedly insisted he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the files released to date. He has acknowledged a falling out with Epstein, reportedly after Epstein hired Virginia Giuffre—later identified as one of his victims—away from Mar-a-Lago, where she had been employed. “I think she worked at the spa,” Trump told reporters last July. “He stole her. And by the way, she had no complaints about us, as you know. None whatsoever.”

The Secret Handshake’s latest installation thus serves as both a marker of political protest and a reminder of the unfinished business surrounding the Epstein investigation. For some, it’s a powerful symbol of the need for accountability and transparency in government. For others, it’s a partisan stunt, exploiting tragedy for political gain. And for many onlookers—tourists, locals, and lawmakers alike—it’s an unavoidable prompt to remember the darker chapters of recent American history.

As the week unfolds and the birthday card stands tall on the Mall, the debate over art, protest, and the public’s right to know continues, echoing through the corridors of power and the city’s broad avenues. Whether the files will ever all see the light of day, or whether the art will move the needle on public opinion, remains to be seen. But for now, the installation has succeeded in its mission: to keep the conversation alive, right in the nation’s front yard.