‘Tragic love story’: Statues of Trump and Epstein found in Washington DC, striking iconic 1997 Titanic pose

A satirical statue depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a pose inspired by the film “Titanic” appeared on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.The sculpture, titled “King of the World,” shows figures representing Trump and Epstein standing on the bow of a ship, recreating the famous scene from the 1997 film in which characters Rose and Jack stand on the bow of a ship with arms spread wide. The statue is about 12 feet tall and painted gold.The installation was created by an anonymous artist known as “Secret Handshake.” The group has previously placed other artwork on the National Mall that referenced the relationship between Trump and Epstein.The statue is installed near the U.S. Capitol District on the National Mall, facing the Washington Monument. Several banners placed nearby showed photos of Trump and Epstein along with the slogan “Make America Safe Again.”A plaque on the sculpture features satirical text referencing Titanic’s romantic storyline. The inscription describes a “tragic love story” built on “luxury travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches” and compares the alleged relationship between Trump and Epstein.People visiting the National Mall stop to look at the statue and take photos. The piece is one of several protest artworks created by the same group that focus on Donald Trump’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.Trump has previously said he met Epstein in Florida but said the two had a falling out in the mid-2000s. He also said he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal behavior and pedophilia. Epstei, a financier convicted of sex-related crimes, died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges.The White House criticized the statue. A spokesman said the installation reflected political hypocrisy and questioned why similar artwork had not been created for other figures linked to Epstein.The National Mall often becomes a site for protest art and temporary installations about political and social issues.