On October 3, 2025, a controversial statue depicting former President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein holding hands made a dramatic return to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., reigniting fierce debate over art, politics, and public memory. The artwork, originally titled "Best Friends Forever" and now renamed "Why Can't We Be Friends?", stands in full view of the U.S. Capitol, a bold and provocative presence that has drawn crowds, criticism, and curiosity in equal measure.
The statue, commissioned and installed by the anonymous artist collective known as "The Secret Handshake," shows Trump and Epstein in a whimsical pose: each with a foot kicked back, a hand flailing in the air, and their other hands clasped together. Between them, a plaque celebrates Friendship Month and reads, "We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his 'closest friend,' Jeffrey Epstein." Another plaque features the words, "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday—and may every day be another wonderful secret," a reference to a message Trump allegedly wrote to Epstein on his birthday—something Trump has vehemently denied, according to ARTnews and NPR.
The return of the statue follows a turbulent week in which it was abruptly removed by the National Park Service (NPS) for violating permit rules. The Department of the Interior, which oversees NPS, told CNN that the statue was taken down because "it was not compliant with the permit issued." Specifically, the 12-foot-tall sculpture exceeded the height limitations stipulated in its permit. The removal was swift and, according to the artists, damaging; the figures were reportedly ripped from their pedestals and broken into pieces. Undeterred, "The Secret Handshake" recovered the statue and painstakingly reassembled it, visible marks of the ordeal still etched into its surface.
The saga of the statue's permits has been almost as contentious as the artwork itself. According to records shared with NPR, the group initially received a permit to display the statue through September 28, but the NPS removed it in the pre-dawn hours of September 24, less than a day after it first appeared. The artists claim they were not given the 24 hours' written notice required by the permit. After a week of wrangling, the group was able to secure a new permit just before the federal government shutdown, allowing the statue to return to its prominent spot on the Mall. The current permit allows the statue to remain until 8 p.m. on October 6.
The controversy surrounding the statue is inseparable from the ongoing political battles over Epstein's legacy and Trump's relationship to him. Trump has consistently denied having a close relationship with Epstein, dismissing the controversies as a "Democratic hoax." In a statement to NPR, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, "It's not news that Epstein knew Donald Trump, because Donald Trump kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep." Trump has also claimed that their friendship ended before Epstein's 2006 indictment, citing disputes over employees at Mar-a-Lago, including young women.
Yet, the statue's arrival has coincided with renewed calls for the release of the so-called "Epstein files"—a trove of documents from various investigations into Epstein's activities. Then-candidate Trump had promised to release these files if elected, a pledge that has yet to be fulfilled and has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed and published thousands of pages of documents in its own investigation, but many in Congress continue to press for more transparency. According to a NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released this week, 61% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the Epstein files, with 77% supporting the release of the documents (with victims' names removed).
The debate over the statue has also spilled into broader partisan conflict. Democrats have pushed for the release of additional Epstein-related documents, while Republicans in the House have sought to block such efforts. ARTnews reported that House Republicans even refused to swear in Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona, whose signature would have forced a vote on disseminating the files to the public. This standoff has become emblematic of the broader political gridlock gripping Washington, especially as the government remains partially shut down due to a deadlocked Congress.
For "The Secret Handshake," the statue is part of a larger campaign of satirical public art targeting Trump and his associates. Over the past year, the group has installed several provocative sculptures on the National Mall and nearby locations. In 2024, they erected "The Resolute Desk," a bronze replica of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk, referencing the January 6 insurrection. Another work, "The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame," took the form of a bronze tiki torch, mocking Trump's defense of the marchers at the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. The group also installed "Dictator Approved," a statue of a golden hand giving a thumbs-up while crushing the Statue of Liberty's crown, a pointed commentary on perceived threats to democracy.
The artists behind "Why Can't We Be Friends?" have been outspoken about their intentions. In an email to ARTnews and NPR, they wrote, "Just like a toppled confederate general forced back onto a public square, the Donald Trump Jeffrey Epstein statue has risen from the rubble to stand gloriously on the National Mall once again." They described the initial removal as "a literal example of the Trump administration toppling free speech when it has been legally permitted and approved because they are scared about whatever Trump is hiding in the Epstein files."
Public reaction to the statue has been predictably polarized. Onlookers have flocked to take photos, with some expressing outrage and others amusement. The statue's depiction of Trump and Epstein, both controversial figures in their own right, has reignited debates about the boundaries of public art, the role of satire in politics, and the unresolved questions surrounding Epstein's crimes and connections.
With the statue permitted to remain on the Mall until October 6, it stands as a temporary but potent symbol of the nation's ongoing struggles with history, accountability, and the right to dissent. Whether seen as a courageous act of artistic protest or a tasteless provocation, "Why Can't We Be Friends?" has succeeded in forcing a conversation—one that, for now, shows no sign of quieting.
