A new pop-up statue has landed on the east end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is generating a mild outrage because of its praise for the complicated relationship between former President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The whimsical bronze sculpture depicts two jumping figures playing together, their open arms creating a heart shape. It has been subjected to pernicious, close-minded attack and inquisition, most notably by Trump supporters.
This statue serves as a visual representation of a friendship that Trump has actively sought to downplay in recent years. The installation features plaques that quote from an alleged birthday letter Trump penned to Epstein, asserting that they had “certain things in common” and that “enigmas never age.” This exchange landed Epstein in the printed correspondence section of Epstein’s 50th birthday book. It included a very controversial rendering of a nude woman torso.
That friendship has been immortalized in art, underscoring a key issue Trump can’t escape. He hasn’t stopped working to keep the public from caring about his long and financially lucrative friendship with Epstein. This issue concerns the president’s moral character. It has opened up fault lines in his normally monolithic MAGA base.
The sculpture depicts the two men kicking their feet high in celebration, seemingly sharing a moment of pure exuberance. This playful portrayal couldn’t be more different from the brutal charges detailed in Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking operation. Unfortunately, Trump isn’t the only major figure with ties to Epstein. Other big names, such as ex-US president Bill Clinton and attorney Alan Dershowitz, appear in Epstein’s address book and flight logs.
In response to the statue, Trump has released a furious personal attack, minimizing the meaning of the public artwork.
“certain things in common” – The Guardian
“enigmas never age” – The Guardian
The statue’s construction has incited a national debate on whether it’s right to memorialize such relationships in public spaces at all. Supporters say that it addresses the gray areas of political and personal relationships. Critics argue it downplays the deplorable reality associated with Epstein’s legacy.
Right at the bottom of this spray-painted bronze installation, a plaque tells you to heed that warning. Many read it as an attempt to cast the relationship between Trump and Epstein in a good light. This has only fueled conversations about the ethics of memorializing individuals linked to criminal behavior.