Trump-Epstein ‘Titanic pose’ statue appears in Washington

A towering gold-painted statue depicting figures of U.S. President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein striking the iconic "bow-of-the-ship" pose from the film Titanic appeared this week on the National Mall, in what its creators say is a satirical installation intended to highlight the pair’s past association.

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Spray-painted gold and standing nearly 12 feet tall, the sculpture recreates the famous scene from the 1997 movie in which the character Jack stands behind Rose at the front of a ship with arms outstretched. In the installation, the Trump-like figure stands behind the Epstein-like figure in the same pose, facing toward the Washington Monument.


The installation was created by an anonymous artist collective calling itself “Secret Handshake".

A plaque mounted at the base references the Titanic scene while delivering a pointed message about the relationship between the two men. It describes the work as commemorating a “tragic love story,” saying their friendship was built on “luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches.”




King of the World: The title references the famous line from the 1997 film Titanic, whose iconic bow-of-the-ship pose is recreated in the statue depicting figures representing former U.S. president Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

By invoking the scene, the artists frame the installation as political satire commenting on the past association between the two men.

Make America Safe Again: The statue was installed along Third Street NW between Jefferson and Madison drives, a stretch of the National Mall often used for demonstrations and temporary public artworks.

Nearby banners displayed photographs of Trump and Epstein together and carried the phrase “Make America Safe Again,” alongside imagery referencing the U.S. Justice Department with the word “Justice” partially redacted.

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According to the artists, the installation was placed after securing a permit through the National Park Service, which regulates demonstrations and temporary displays on the National Mall, as per Washington Post.

The collective has previously staged similar installations referencing Trump and Epstein in Washington. In September, it placed a bronze-coloured statue titled “Best Friends Forever” depicting figures representing the two men holding hands with one foot raised behind them.

Earlier this year, the group also installed a massive replica of a birthday note allegedly sent to Epstein that included a typed message and a “Donald” signature. Trump has denied writing the note and said the signature was not his.

Trump has previously acknowledged knowing Epstein socially in Florida but has said their relationship ended in the mid-2000s. He has also maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal conduct.

Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls and died later that year in a New York jail while awaiting trial.

Visitors to the National Mall stopped to photograph the installation and debate its message, with some describing it as pointed political satire and others criticising it as distasteful.

(With inputs from The Washington Post)