WASHINGTON: Visitors strolling along Washington’s National Mall on Tuesday morning were greeted by an unusual sight: a towering, tongue-in-cheek sculpture titled “The King of the World.”
Standing 12 feet tall and sprayed in gold, the statue recreates the famous “I’m flying!” moment from the 1997 film Titanic. But instead of Jack and Rose, the artwork features Donald Trump poised behind a smiling Jeffrey Epstein at the bow of a ship, arms outstretched in theatrical triumph.
The message is anything but subtle.
A plaque at the base draws a pointed comparison between the fictional romance aboard the doomed liner and the real-world association between the US president and the disgraced financier. It reads that the story of Jack and Rose unfolded amid “luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches”, before noting that the monument honours a friendship seemingly built on much the same ingredients.
Around the installation stand ten large banners bearing photographs of the two men alongside the slogan “Make America Safe Again.” On the accompanying Department of Justice insignia, however, the word “Justice” has been conspicuously redacted.
The work is attributed to an anonymous activist collective calling itself “The Secret Handshake.” The group has gained notoriety in Washington over the past year for a series of guerrilla-style installations that blend political satire with public spectacle.
Among them was “Best Friends Forever” in September 2025, a statue depicting Trump and Epstein holding hands and skipping together. It was briefly removed by park police for lacking a permit before reappearing soon after.
Another piece, “The Birthday Card” unveiled in January 2026, was a ten-foot replica of an alleged 2003 birthday message from Trump to Epstein, complete with a hand-drawn outline of a woman. Earlier still came “Dictator Approved,” a golden thumbs-up crushing the head of the Statue of Liberty.
The latest installation lands at a politically charged moment. In recent months the US Department of Justice has been releasing batches of documents following the Epstein Files Transparency Act of 2025, fuelling renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s network and associates.
Freshly released FBI material reportedly contains a new allegation of sexual assault involving the president. The White House has dismissed the claim as “completely baseless”.
Trump has previously taken legal action against media organisations over reporting related to Epstein. In contrast, officials have largely brushed off the public artworks, describing them as little more than activists spending their own money.
For now, the sculpture stands on Third Street NW between Jefferson and Madison Drives, drawing curious glances, camera phones and a fair amount of debate.
According to the artists behind it, the satirical monument will remain on the National Mall until Friday, 13 March.
Until then, Washington has a new attraction. Not quite Titanic-sized, perhaps, but certainly big enough to make waves.
