Best Friends Forever (sculpture)

Best Friends Forever is a statue consisting of two sculptures on podiums, depicting incumbent United States president Donald Trump (north) holding hands and frolicking with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (south). Three plaques were located at the foot of Trump, Epstein, and center of the base. The sculpture was created in protest of the relationship of Trump and Epstein and the closely associated sexual misconduct allegations against Trump; it was constructed from foam, resin, wood, and wire, and colored to appear bronze on a marble base. The center plaque stated: == History ==

Through location manager Carol Flaisher, On the morning of September 24, at around 5:30 AM, several USPP vehicles arrived on-site, some noted by onlookers to be unmarked. Park Police told CBS through WUSA that the sculpture was removed due to not being in compliance with its permit, but did not show said permit or initially explain how it was in violation. Flaisher added that she and The Secret Handshake never received any advance notices, and were not informed of the apparent permit violation until they had already reacquired the sculpture's parts and attempted repair. A week after its removal, it was reported on October 2 during the 2025 United States federal government shutdown that the statue had been reinstalled on the National Mall. The statue was removed on October 5 upon the expiration of its permit. == Reception ==

Commenting on the statue, Stephen Colbert on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert joked about its realism and categorized it as a "victory for free speech" on par with the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! being lifted. Following the sculpture's removal, Colbert went on to sarcastically thank the United States Park Police "for protecting free speech for almost 24 hours". == See also ==