A provocative new art installation depicting President Donald Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in an iconic cinematic embrace appeared on the National Mall Tuesday, reigniting a fierce public debate over the President’s historical ties to the disgraced financier.
The 12-foot, gold-colored sculpture, titled “KING OF THE WORLD,” reimagines the famous “Jack and Rose” bow scene from the 1997 blockbuster Titanic. In this iteration, the figure of President Trump stands behind Epstein, whose arms are outstretched in the pose made famous by Kate Winslet.
The installation is the latest work from Secret Handshake, an anonymous artist collective that has spent the last year trolling the administration with high-profile “guerrilla” monuments.
A Satirical Tribute to ‘Luxurious Travel’
Flanking the statue are plaques that explicitly link the fictional romance of the film to the real-world history of the two men. The text reads:
“The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches. This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly built on luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches.”
The display also includes 10 large banners hung nearby. A representative for Secret Handshake told local affiliate WUSA9 that the banners were a response to the President’s recent habit of placing his own image on federal property.
“2026 has been a banner year for President Trump,” the group stated. “He’s added giant banners of his face to federal buildings all across D.C. We want to help him on his mission by tossing a few of our own in the mix.”
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A Pattern of Political Protest
This is not the first time Secret Handshake has targeted the National Mall. The group has established a recurring presence in the capital:
- September 2025: The group installed “Best Friends Forever,” a bronze-colored statue of Trump and Epstein dancing hand-in-hand. U.S. Park Police removed it within 24 hours citing permit violations, though it later reappeared briefly.
- January 2026: A 10-foot-tall recreation of a controversial birthday card appeared. The installation referenced a 2003 note Trump reportedly sent Epstein for his 50th birthday, which featured a graphic sketch and the message, “A pal is a wonderful thing.”
Legal Fallout and Defamation Claims
The “birthday card” at the center of the January protest remains the subject of a massive legal battle. President Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and News Corp owner Rupert Murdoch in July 2025, after the publication first reported on the letter’s existence.
Trump has vehemently denied the report, calling it “fake” and stating, “I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women.”
While the President claims the document was fabricated, the House Oversight Committee later released a version of the message, which the Journal maintains is authentic. A motion to dismiss the President’s lawsuit is currently pending in federal court.
White House Response
The White House has moved quickly to dismiss the installation as a partisan stunt. Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson questioned the motives of the anonymous artists in a statement to reporters.
“When will these wealthy Democrat donors create sculptures of Democrats… who continued to solicit money and meetings from Epstein after he was convicted?” Jackson said. She further claimed the administration is “delivering on transparency” regarding Epstein-related documents.
The statue is permitted to remain on the Mall until Friday, March 13, unless federal authorities move to intervene earlier.
