Statues of Presidents Trump and Epstein recreate iconic scenes from ‘Titanic’
The installation featured President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein recreating an iconic scene from the movie “Titanic.”
A statue of President Donald Trump and deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein embracing in a “Titanic” pose similar to the movie characters Jack and Rose appeared on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., this week.
The 12-foot-tall statue was unveiled on Tuesday, March 10, with the U.S. Capitol building in the background, by the Secret Handshake Group, a small civic organization that uses art and humor to promote political discussion. The art installation, partially spray-painted in gold, depicts Mr. Epstein standing on the bow of the ship with his arms outstretched, with the president behind him holding his wrists.
The statue depicts the men from the film’s iconic scene where lovers Jack and Rose embrace on the bow of a boat at sunset.
The title of the artwork is “King of the World,” a reference to the scene in which Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, shouts, “I am the King of the World.”
A plaque on the side of the statue reads: “Jack and Rose’s tragic love story was built on lavish travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches.” “This monument celebrates the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly forged on lavish trips, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches.”
On either side of the statue are 10 giant banners with photos of Trump and Epstein and the words “Make America Safe Again.” The banner also has the Justice Department insignia, but the word “Justice” is left blank.
A USA TODAY reporter observed tourists and residents observing the statue on Tuesday, March 10th. Many people stopped on their runs or on their way home to take pictures of the scene with their cellphones. Watch it in the video at the top of the story.
It’s unclear how long the statue will remain there. Secret Handshake told USA TODAY in an email that it hopes the statue will remain in place for several more days, but did not provide further information.
White House criticizes statue
President Trump has previously said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities.
In a statement to USA TODAY, White House press secretary Abigail Jackson condemned the exhibit and asked when “wealthy Democratic donors” would create a sculpture of the Democrat who “continued to solicit money and visits from Mr. Epstein even after he was convicted as a sex offender.”
Previous Trump and Epstein statues
The organization is also responsible for the Trump-Epstein friendship statue that appeared on the National Mall in September, also known as Friendship Month, depicting the two billionaires holding hands and prancing.
Permits for installation on the National Mall have been approved by the National Park Service. USA TODAY emailed the agency for additional information.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Please contact mdelrey@usatoday.com.
