Trump dances on a gold screen – this time with Epstein

29. 06. 2025 | Natalie Bezděková

On the National Mall in Washington D.C., where just last week a controversial statue titled ‘Approved by Dictators’ criticizing President Donald Trump stood, there is now a new installation – a large gold-plated screen. It plays video footage of Trump dancing alongside, among others, the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The work was created by an unknown artist, but the installation has provoked strong reactions – particularly from the White House, where it has been met with outrage and harsh comments.

According to the Daily Beast, the installation has a permit to stand until Sunday, when the permission granted by the U.S. National Parks Service expires. In addition to the video itself, the base of the screen includes a previous statement from the White House regarding the past statue, ‘In the United States of America, you have the freedom to display your so-called “art,” no matter how ugly it is.’

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded with an ironic comment, “I made them replace that tacky statue with a beautiful video of the president’s legendary dance. I’m glad tourists can enjoy this inspiration.”

According to the official request, the artistic intervention is to ‘use political video material to illustrate freedom of expression and artistic expression.’ The installation has attracted the attention of passers-by as well as experts who are trying to establish the identity of the artist. Permission has been granted to the name ‘Mary Harris,’ but many believe it is a reference to activist Mary Harris Jones, known from the labor movement of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The image of Trump with Epstein has long been a politically sensitive issue for the president. The two men were particularly close in the 1990s, and Trump said of Epstein at the time that he was a ‘great guy’ with a penchant for ‘younger women,’ suggesting some awareness of his problematic behavior. According to figures released by Epstein’s close associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump was to fly on Epstein’s private jet a total of seven times.

This fact was also brought up by Elon Musk, who in a recent post on his social network X stated, ‘Donald Trump is in Epstein’s files.’ He went on to say that he believes this is the reason why all the documents that could reveal the names of influential figures with ties to Epstein have not yet been made public.

The new installation replaced an earlier 2.5-foot-tall statue that depicted the Statue of Liberty with a damaged crown and an erect thumb in the style of Trump’s typical gesticulation. The pedestal of the previous work featured statements from authoritarian world leaders praising Trump.

Photo source: www.pexels.com

Author of this article

Natalie Bezděková

I am a student of Master's degree in Political Science. I am interested in marketing, especially copywriting and social media. I also focus on political and social events at home and abroad and technological innovations. My free time is filled with sports, reading and a passion for travel.

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