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# Epstein and Trump Portrayed as Titanic Lovers in New Anonymous Artwork
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/epstein-and-trump-portrayed-as-titanic-lovers-in-new-anonymous-artwork/
- Published: 2026-03-10T19:51:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-10T20:18:46.000Z
- Description: The sculpture on the National Mall comes in the wake of the release of previously withheld documents detailing abuse allegations against Trump.
- Author: Isa Farfan
- Tags: News, Washington DC, Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein

A new sculpture portraying President Donald Trump caressing smiling sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, echoing one of the most famous scenes in *Titanic* (1997), cropped up in front of the United States Capitol this morning, Tuesday, March 10\. 

The public artwork, titled “King of the World,” is the latest Trump-critical temporary installation by the anonymous artist or artists using the pseudonym The Secret Handshake. The sculpture imagines Trump holding Epstein's wingspan as a caricature of the disgraced financier stares gleefully ahead, imitating the iconic *Titanic* scene in which Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) stand on the bow of the ill-fated ship while she proclaims, “I'm flying!”

The Secret Handshake draws a mocking comparison between the fictional love story and the relationship between the president and the sex offender in the wake of the Trump Justice Department’s botched release of the so-called Epstein files. 

"The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches,” reads a plaque accompanying the work. “This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly built on luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches."

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/03/IMG_2478.jpg)

A plaque accompanying the sculpture

True to its cinematic influence, “King of the World” is complete with railing in the shape of a ship’s bow. Ten large banners featuring a photograph of Epstein and Trump are placed on either side of the statue, satirizing the president's recent interest in [adding his face](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trumps-face-is-now-on-the-justice-department-headquarters?ref=hyperallergic.com) to the exteriors of government buildings. 

The work comes after the Department of Justice [uploaded](https://www.democracynow.org/2026/3/10/headlines/fbi%5Freleases%5Fpreviously%5Fwithheld%5Fdocuments%5Ffrom%5Fepstein%5Ffiles%5Falleging%5Fsexual%5Fassault%5Fby%5Ftrump?ref=hyperallergic.com) previously [unreleased](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/doj-releases-epstein-files-containing-sexual-assault-allegations-against-trump?ref=hyperallergic.com) [FBI documents](https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2012/EFTA02858481.pdf?ref=hyperallergic.com) detailing abuse allegations against Trump to the Epstein library. According to the documents, a woman alleged that she had a sexual encounter with Trump, whom she met through Epstein, when she was between 13 and 15 years old.

“The President has been referring to *himself* as a king in Truth Social posts, and we wanted to honor that desire to be kinged by making him a version of one of the most iconic references in American Culture,” The Secret Handshake told *Hyperallergic* in an email. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/2026/03/IMG_2467.jpg)

Passersby gather to take photos of the new artwork on March 10, 2026\. 

The Secret Handshake has previously scrutinized Trump’s close ties with Epstein in other public artworks, including an [enlarged version](https://hyperallergic.com/new-artwork-on-national-mall-lampoons-trump-epstein-birthday-card/) of a birthday card [allegedly written](https://hyperallergic.com/newly-released-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-drawings-paint-a-disturbing-picture/) by Trump within the outline of a female body. An earlier sculpture by The Secret Handshake [portrayed Trump and Epstein holding hands](https://hyperallergic.com/hand-holding-trump-and-epstein-statue-appears-on-national-mall/) on the National Mall. 

In an email, The Secret Handshake said the sculpture would remain on view until Friday, March 14.