WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the latest installment of a series of "guerrilla art" protests, a new statue depicting President Donald Trump and the late Jeffrey Epstein appeared on the National Mall on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
The installation, titled "KING OF THE WORLD," features the two men reenacting the iconic "flying" scene from the movie Titanic. The anonymous group behind the work, known as The Secret Handshake, says the display is a commentary on the "luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches" that they claim defined the pair's historical relationship.
This is the third major installation from the group since late 2025, following the "Best Friends Forever" prancing statue and a ten foot tall replica of an alleged birthday card from Trump to Epstein.
**A "Titanic" Satire
The statue was discovered early Tuesday morning, positioned prominently near Third Street NW, flanked by ten giant banners featuring the President’s face.
- The Design: The piece depicts the President and Epstein standing at the "bow" of a ship in a pose reminiscent of Jack and Rose.
- The Banners: Organizers stated the banners were a satirical nod to 2026 being a "banner year" for the President, referencing his reported directive to add large scale imagery of himself to federal buildings across D.C.
- The Message: A plaque at the base of the sculpture reads: "The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel... this monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly built on the same."
National Mall "Theater"
The installation immediately drew crowds of tourists and onlookers, many of whom stopped to take photos before the usual "Permit War" could result in its removal.
- The Crowd Reaction: Observers described the atmosphere as a mix of amusement and political tension. "It’s high theater," one visitor remarked. "It highlights the things the administration wants to keep incommunicado."
- The Security Response: U.S. Park Police were seen monitoring the site, though no immediate action was taken to dismantle the work on Tuesday, as the group reportedly obtained a permit through Friday.
- The White House Rebuttal: Presidential spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the art as "performative theater" funded by "Trump-Deranged Liberals" who are "lighting donor money on fire" to spread "fake news."
Free Speech v. Federal Permits
On March 11, 2026, the "Legal War" over the National Mall continued as the administration faced criticism for its handling of previous satirical installations.
- The Removal Precedent: In September 2025, the "Best Friends Forever" statue was hauled away by Park Police within 24 hours for an alleged permit violation. This led to a legal challenge regarding the "selective enforcement" of park rules against political speech.
- The "Transparency" Shield: The Secret Handshake argues that their art is a protected form of political dissent, specifically targeting the administration’s refusal to release the full "Epstein Files" that were part of a Senate debate earlier this year.
- The "Secret Handshake" Defense: The group has remained anonymous, using legal intermediaries to file permits under names like "Mary Harris," a tactic that has successfully created a "Legal Shield" against individual retaliation while keeping the focus on the art itself.
"Enigmas Never Age"
The timing of the statue coincides with renewed public interest in the "Epstein Birthday Book," which allegedly contains messages from the President that he has repeatedly denied writing.
By utilizing the Titanic imagery, the artists are signaling that they believe the "bond" between the two men is an unsinkable part of the President's history, no matter how much the White House attempts to submerge it.
For the Trump administration, the goal is to frame the statues as "ugly and irrelevant." For the Secret Handshake, the goal is to ensure the "Character War" remains a visible part of the D.C. skyline.