A 300-cm-high sculpture depicting former U.S. President Donald Trump and financier Jeffrey Epstein holding hands has been returned to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., according to a report by The Washington Post. The artwork, titled “Best Friends Forever,” was initially removed by the U.S. National Park Service a week prior for violating permit requirements.
The statue, created by anonymous artists critical of the Trump administration, was reinstalled on Thursday after undergoing restoration. Damage sustained during its removal had previously separated the figures’ hands, but the sculpture now appears fully repaired, with only minor imperfections visible. A plaque at its base reads: “We celebrate the long-standing bond between President Donald Trump and his ‘closest friend’ Jeffrey Epstein.”
Local residents and tourists expressed surprise at the statue’s return. Melinda Winters, an 82-year-old visitor from Tennessee, remarked on the unexpected display but noted that the portrayal of Trump and Epstein did not reflect what she considered their true nature.
The artwork’s installation coincided with heightened scrutiny of Epstein’s legal legacy, as Trump had previously demanded the release of court records related to Epstein’s case. A Florida court denied his request in July, prompting further criticism from the former president.
