Titanic-themed Trump & Epstein statue appears near Capitol

• "The Secret Handshake" installed a golden sculpture titled "King of the World", depicting Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.
• The piece serves as a satirical critique of the President's recent self-references as a "king" and coincides with the release of new DOJ documents.

A provocative satirical installation depicting US President Donald Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a pose inspired by the film Titanic appeared on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

The artwork, placed without authorization near the United States Capitol on 3rd Street West between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive.

Titled “King of the World,” the nearly 12-foot-tall sculpture is golden-hued and recreates the iconic bow scene from the 1997 movie.

It portrays Trump standing behind Epstein, holding his outstretched arms in imitation of the characters Jack and Rose, with Epstein’s figure smiling gleefully forward and a ship’s bow railing incorporated into the base. The installation faces the Washington Monument.

The anonymous artist collective The Secret Handshake, responsible for the work, described it in communications to media as a commentary on President Trump’s recent social media references to himself as a “king.”

The group has previously produced similar unauthorized pieces targeting the president, positioning this as a continuation of their satirical campaign.

Accompanying the statue are ten large banners displaying photographs of Trump and Epstein together, explicitly referencing the president’s reported placement of his own imagery on federal buildings throughout 2026.

A plaque at the base states: “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 timing of the installation coincides with the recent release of previously withheld Department of Justice documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, which include allegations of abuse involving Trump.

These files have renewed public discussion of the pair’s documented social ties from decades earlier, including shared travel and events, though Trump has long maintained he distanced himself from Epstein years ago.

This represents the third such installation by The Secret Handshake on the National Mall. An earlier sculpture showing the two men holding hands, titled “Best Friends Forever,” was swiftly removed by US Park Police in September 2025.

As of Tuesday, the statue remains in place and is scheduled to stand until Friday. Passersby have gathered to photograph the work, generating a mix of praise for its artistic boldness and scorn for its subject matter, consistent with the polarized reactions to the artists’ prior efforts. Authorities have issued no formal statement on its presence to date.