Gleeful Trump and Epstein Statue Appeared at U.S. Capitol 'in Honor of Friendship Month.' Authorities Quickly Tore It Down By Rachel Raposas

Authorities have removed a statue of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein that popped up near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, a large bronze-colored statue of the president and his late former friend, convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, appeared on the National Mall, according to The New York Times, CNN and The Washington Post. The two men were depicted holding hands and apparently dancing, each with a foot kicked behind them and their arms raised, both smiling at each other.

By Wednesday morning, U.S. Park Police had removed the installation, per the Times.

The statue’s title, “Best Friends Forever,” was inscribed in a plaque on the statue’s base, which also noted that it was erected “in honor of Friendship Month.”

The message continued: “We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein.” Inscribed were multiple quotes from the birthday note Trump allegedly sent Epstein in 2003.

The statue had a permit to remain at the National Mall until 8 p.m. on Sept. 28, according to CBS affiliate WUSA9. The permit reportedly includes a clause that permission can be revoked as long as the person who procured it is notified at least 24 hours in advance, the outlet stated.

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The Park Police told the outlet that the statue violated the permit but did not say how, WUSA9 reported.

The statue comes amid sustained pressure from the public for the Trump administration to release all files related to Epstein’s crimes and death, and increase overall transparency on the matter. The president is known to have had a past friendship with the convicted sex offender.

The statue is the latest in a series of political art installations set up in the area. In June, a statue called “Dictator Approved” — depicting a giant golden thumbs-up, crushing the Statue of Liberty — popped up on the National Mall.

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The following week, another golden statue of an eagle atop an old-fashioned television set appeared in the same place. The TV’s screen played a loop video of Trump awkwardly dancing, cut with clips from his campaign rallies and old video footage of the president with Epstein.