video screenshot

 

The National Park Service (NPS) took down a controversial statue of US President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein from the National Mall early on Wednesday, sparking concerns over free speech. The statue, named "Best Friends Forever," was erected just a day before by "The Secret Handshake" group. The organisers expected it to remain until Sunday, raising questions about its unexpected removal.

 

Placed with the US Capitol in the backdrop, the statue depicted Trump and Epstein holding hands. A plaque read, "In Honor of Friendship Month," highlighting a theme of political satire. The Department of the Interior stated the removal was due to a permit violation, as the statue exceeded the six-foot height limit when combined with its base.

 

Patrick, an organiser from the group, expressed dismay over the statue’s removal, claiming the core issue lies with what the statue represents rather than the statue itself. Previous installations by "The Secret Handshake" had occurred without issues, including notable pieces like "The Resolute Desk" and "The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame."

 

Both Patrick and Carol Flaisher, who handles permits for the group, insisted all documentation was properly submitted, suspecting the height discrepancy was a mere "typo." Despite having a public gathering permit promoting freedom of speech through political art, the group was surprised by the statue's dismantlement without prior notice as stipulated in the permit conditions.

 

The Department of the Interior has yet to provide clear answers regarding the decision and any notification process. The group remains critical of the abrupt action, comparing it to previous incidents involving Trump and media figures. Concerns about the impact on artistic expression and free speech continue to circulate.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A Trump-Epstein statue was removed by NPS for violating permit conditions.
• Organisers argue a permit discrepancy may have been a typo.
• The removal has raised broader questions about free speech and artistic expression.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-09-25

 

 

BREAKING: Thomas Massie says he has 218 signatures to force the vote on the Epstein files

https://kentuckylantern.com/2025/09/24/massie-says-he-has-the-votes-needed-to-force-u-s-house-vote-on-releasing-epstein-files/

 

Not political????

I'm enjoying the heck out of watching the shoe being on the other foot.

Team Biden wouldn't have hesitated for a second to tear down a statue based on some minor "typo" or insignificant issue.

 

37 minutes ago, impulse said:

I'm enjoying the heck out of watching the shoe being on the other foot.

Team Biden wouldn't have hesitated for a second to tear down a statue based on some minor "typo" or insignificant issue.

 

The topic is real, your answer is pretending something could have happened. No cigar.

The statue is down but the image of it lives on the internet forever.

14 minutes ago, stevenl said:

The topic is real, your answer is pretending something could have happened. No cigar.

He only smokes weed

That doesn't look like Epstein in the slightest.

 

Whatever art student made that statue needs a little more practice.

15 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

That doesn't look like Epstein in the slightest.

 

Whatever art student made that statue needs a little more practice.

Grasping at straws.

 

The leg raises are a brilliant touch. 

1 hour ago, impulse said:

I'm enjoying the heck out of watching the shoe being on the other foot.

Team Biden wouldn't have hesitated for a second to tear down a statue based on some minor "typo" or insignificant issue.

 

Ah, your favourite old "but but but but but Biden" comeback. Thought provoking and brilliant.

This should not be on the National Mall. 

36 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

That doesn't look like Epstein in the slightest.

 

Whatever art student made that statue needs a little more practice.

Whatever, it's a couple of pedos holding hands.

3 minutes ago, TedG said:

This should not be on the National Mall. 

 

Indeed, it should be in the Rose Garden Club

24 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Grasping at straws.

 

The leg raises are a brilliant touch. 

 

Are you sure that's Trump and Epstein? Looks more like Trump and Edward Norton.

 

 

28 minutes ago, TedG said:

This should not be on the National Mall. 

It was properly permitted to be there,it just riled the felon so that expression was canceled no more no less.

Just now, Tug said:

It was properly permitted to be there,it just riled the felon so that expression was canceled no more no less.

This should not be on the National Mall.   The National Mall has the World War II Veterans Memorial, the Korean Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.   This has no place on the National Mall.   The left trashes everything out of bitterness. 

6 minutes ago, TedG said:

This should not be on the National Mall.   The National Mall has the World War II Veterans Memorial, the Korean Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.   This has no place on the National Mall.   The left trashes everything out of bitterness. 

Trump is trashing our democracy that’s the point!

2 minutes ago, Tug said:

Trump is trashing our democracy that’s the point!

 

No, he is not. 

Breaking News: Tylenol Researchers Find Disturbing Link Between Donald Trump And Jeffrey Epstein

3 hours ago, TedG said:

This should not be on the National Mall.   The National Mall has the World War II Veterans Memorial, the Korean Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.   This has no place on the National Mall.   The left trashes everything out of bitterness. 

Rubbish. The National Mall has hosted plenty of protest art and physical protests in the past. 

10 minutes ago, TedG said:

35 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Rubbish. The National Mall has hosted plenty of protest art and physical protests in the past. 

You're full of rubbist.  You're not even an Amercan.

 

But, somewhat unsurprisingly, he knows more about your National Mall than you do?

We await  the Banksi  wall mural  ...

4 hours ago, TedG said:

This should not be on the National Mall. 

Shouldn't be anywhere. It's terrible. Looks like two gay men going for a run. Still art as it's said is in the eye of the beholder. 

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Looks like two gay men going for a run.

Looks like two sexual abusers going for a run

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Shouldn't be anywhere. It's terrible. Looks like two gay men going for a run. Still art as it's said is in the eye of the beholder. 

 

Looks like Morecambe & Wise.

 

 

Some folks take themselves far to seriously.

 

 

9 hours ago, TedG said:

This should not be on the National Mall. 

It should be in the Smithsonian Museum in the Trump history wing.

Flame post removed & reply quote also removed.

 

@TedG

On 9/25/2025 at 7:12 AM, webfact said:

video screenshot

 

The National Park Service (NPS) took down a controversial statue of US President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein from the National Mall early on Wednesday, sparking concerns over free speech. The statue, named "Best Friends Forever," was erected just a day before by "The Secret Handshake" group. The organisers expected it to remain until Sunday, raising questions about its unexpected removal.

 

Placed with the US Capitol in the backdrop, the statue depicted Trump and Epstein holding hands. A plaque read, "In Honor of Friendship Month," highlighting a theme of political satire. The Department of the Interior stated the removal was due to a permit violation, as the statue exceeded the six-foot height limit when combined with its base.

 

Patrick, an organiser from the group, expressed dismay over the statue’s removal, claiming the core issue lies with what the statue represents rather than the statue itself. Previous installations by "The Secret Handshake" had occurred without issues, including notable pieces like "The Resolute Desk" and "The Donald J. Trump Enduring Flame."

 

Both Patrick and Carol Flaisher, who handles permits for the group, insisted all documentation was properly submitted, suspecting the height discrepancy was a mere "typo." Despite having a public gathering permit promoting freedom of speech through political art, the group was surprised by the statue's dismantlement without prior notice as stipulated in the permit conditions.

 

The Department of the Interior has yet to provide clear answers regarding the decision and any notification process. The group remains critical of the abrupt action, comparing it to previous incidents involving Trump and media figures. Concerns about the impact on artistic expression and free speech continue to circulate.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A Trump-Epstein statue was removed by NPS for violating permit conditions.
• Organisers argue a permit discrepancy may have been a typo.
• The removal has raised broader questions about free speech and artistic expression.

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-09-25

 

 

I'm disappointed. But maybe there might be a better place where "Daddy" can watch it every day?

12 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Ah, your favourite old "but but but but but Biden" comeback. Thought provoking and brilliant.

 

 

Cry harder.  The Dems and lefties have been doing it for 10 years, confident that it couldn't happen to them.  Now, they're getting a bigass dose of their own medicine. 

 

And I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

 

Free speech for me, but definitely not for thee….