A controversial statue depicting former US President Donald Trump holding hands with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has resurfaced in Washington, just days after it was dismantled by federal authorities. The statue, which towers more than three meters high and is painted in bronze, was reinstalled on Thursday on the National Mall, within walking distance of the US Capitol, after its sudden disappearance last week.
The work, originally titled Best Friends Forever but now renamed Why Can’t We Be Friends?, was placed back on its original site by an anonymous art collective known as The Secret Handshake. The group confirmed that it secured a temporary permit from the National Park Service before reinstalling the piece, describing its return as a symbolic act. In a statement to The Los Angeles Times, a representative compared the statue’s reinstatement to “a toppled Confederate general forced back onto a public square,” adding that Trump and Epstein’s likenesses had “risen from the rubble” to reclaim its space.
The installation first appeared on September 24 but was removed within 24 hours by the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service. Officials cited non-compliance with permit terms as the reason for its removal. Reports by CNN confirmed that approval for the statue’s reinstallation came on September 30, narrowly secured before the deadline tied to the US federal government shutdown.
The artwork was damaged during its initial dismantling on September 25, but has since been restored before being unveiled again to the public. The timing of its reappearance has reignited conversations surrounding Trump’s long association with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking underage girls. His death was ruled a suicide, but questions surrounding the circumstances continue to spark conspiracy theories, particularly within Trump’s political base, where many argue he was silenced to protect powerful associates.
The so-called Epstein files remain a lingering controversy. In July, the Trump administration announced that no fresh evidence warranted the release of additional documents or the reopening of investigations. However, Epstein’s legacy and Trump’s ties to him continue to fuel debate as the second Trump presidency faces heightened scrutiny.
The statue’s return to the Mall has drawn significant attention not only for its provocative symbolism but also for its placement so close to one of the most powerful symbols of American democracy. For supporters, it stands as a striking form of protest art; for critics, it raises questions about public displays that entwine politics, scandal, and unresolved history.
