- News
- World
- Americas
- US politics
It’s just the latest piece of protest art to be installed by a secretive group called the Secret Handshake
Brendan Rascius in New York Tuesday 10 March 2026 20:44 GMT- Bookmark
- CommentsGo to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
open image in galleryA statue depicting President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein recreating the famous 'Titanic' scene was placed near the Capitol Tuesday (AFP/Getty)
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Get our free Inside Washington email
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
A new statue depicting President Donald Trump and deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein recreating a famous movie scene was placed on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol Tuesday.
The large sculpture — titled “King of the World” — is a nod to the famous moment from the 1997 blockbuster The Titanic, when the film’s protagonists stand together at the prow of the doomed ship.
“The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches,” a plaque at the base of the installation states. “This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.”
Tourists were seen snapping pictures of the statue, which was situated in front of a row of banners displaying photos of Trump and Epstein along with the phrase “Make America Safe Again.”
It’s the latest piece of protest art to be installed on the National Mall by Secret Handshake, a group whose members are anonymous, according to The New Republic.
open image in galleryA statue depicting President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein recreating the famous 'Titanic' scene was placed near the Capitol Tuesday (AFP/Getty)
open image in gallerySituated behind the statue were a number of banners displaying a photo of Trump and Epstein along with the phrase 'Make America Safe Again' (AFP/Getty)In September, the group erected a sculpture of the Republican president and Epstein holding hands in front of the Capitol. It was quickly removed.
The organization was also behind a poop statue criticizing January 6 rioters and a large replica of Trump’s alleged birthday letter to Epstein.
Trump’s relationship with Epstein has been under intense scrutiny ever since the Department of Justice began releasing its files on the deceased sex offender in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law in November. A number of the files reference Trump, as well as other high-profile figures.
The DOJ published a new batch of files earlier this month that named the 79-year-old president. Among those documents are three memos detailing FBI interviews with a woman who claimed Trump sexually assaulted her. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the allegation as “completely baseless” and “backed by zero credible evidence.”
A number of Democrats have also called on the president to testify before the House Oversight Committee, which has deposed Bill and Hillary Clinton as well as Les Wexner, a longtime Epstein associate. Republicans on the committee, however, have said that Trump has been cleared of wrongdoing.
Trump knew Epstein socially in the 1990s and 2000s, and the pair were photographed together on multiple occasions including at Mar-a-Lago and at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Epstein told author Michael Wolffe he was Trump’s “closest friend” in 2017 — two years before his death in jail, which was ruled a suicide.
The president has repeatedly stated that he cut ties with the convicted sex offender years ago, and that he committed no misconduct. He’s described the Epstein controversy as a “hoax” perpetrated by Democrats.
More about
Jeffrey EpsteinDonald TrumpNational MallJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments