Washington, Sept 25 (HS): Authorities in Washington removed a provocative statue on Wednesday depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, after it was surreptitiously installed on the National Mall without authorization.

The life-sized, bronze-painted figures showed Trump and Epstein holding hands with raised arms and legs, appearing to kick up their heels in a playful pose. The figures stood atop white plinths, with a plaque identifying the installation as “Best Friends Forever.”

U.S. Park Police hauled away the statue before dawn, loading it onto a truck after declaring the display non-compliant with permit requirements, according to an Interior Department spokeswoman.Videos circulating on social media showed the removal in progress.

A group calling itself “The Secret Handshake” claimed responsibility for the statue, telling media outlets including NPR that the work was designed as political art commentary targeting Trump’s past association with Epstein.

The stunt marked the latest attempt by activists to spotlight Trump’s previous ties to the disgraced financier, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Similar efforts were reported last week in Britain, where images of Trump with Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle during his state visit, resulting in four arrests.

Trump has long acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but insists their relationship soured years before Epstein’s death. Earlier this month, Democratic lawmakers released what they said was a decades-old birthday message allegedly written by Trump to Epstein, a note the White House dismissed as inauthentic.

While the installation sparked online debate and media scrutiny, officials reiterated that it violated National Mall regulations. “The statue was removed because it was not compliant with the permit issued,” an Interior Department spokeswoman confirmed.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar