Ten-Foot Replica of Alleged Trump-Epstein Note Installed on National Mall
Washington, Tuesday, 20 January 2026.
On January 19, 2026, a ten-foot replica of a birthday note allegedly written by Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein appeared on the National Mall, orchestrated by the protest group “The Secret Handshake.” Timed to coincide with Epstein’s posthumous birthday, the installation magnifies scrutiny of the former president’s past associations through a high-visibility political statement. The artwork, reproducing a 2003 message wishing that “every day be another wonderful secret,” stands as a stark reminder of the unresolved questions surrounding the recently released Department of Justice files.
Anatomy of a Protest
Located on 3rd Street Northwest, positioned deliberately between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive across from the U.S. Capitol, the installation commands attention through sheer scale [1]. The 3.05-meter (10-foot) structure features a dual-sided design: one side displays the greeting “Happy birthday to a ‘terrific guy!’” while the reverse presents a magnified reproduction of the controversial 2003 correspondence [1][3]. The replicated note, which includes a crude sketch of a torso and the handwritten message “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey,” was originally part of a birthday book compiled for Epstein by Ghislaine Maxwell [1][3]. Accompanying the massive card is a statue of stacked boxes labeled “The Files” and a supply of markers, inviting visitors to inscribe their own messages, though organizers have explicitly warned that violent or hateful speech will trigger the artwork’s removal [4].
Historical Context and Legal disputes
The protest art, which appeared on January 19, 2026, arrives just one day before what would have been Jeffrey Epstein’s 73rd birthday [2][3]. The source material for the installation—a note allegedly signed by Donald Trump—first entered the public domain in July 2025 following reporting by The Wall Street Journal and was subsequently released by House Democrats in September 2025 [1][3]. The former president has vehemently denied authorship, stating, “I never wrote a picture in my life,” and has since filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the publication [3]. Despite these denials, the correspondence has fueled ongoing political friction, with former Congressman Adam Kinzinger noting Trump’s history of sketching, evidenced by previous auctions where his drawings of the Manhattan skyline sold for nearly $30,000 [3].
A Pattern of Public Dissent
The group claiming responsibility, “The Secret Handshake,” has established a pattern of utilizing the National Mall for ephemeral, high-impact political commentary [2]. This latest installation follows a similar protest in September 2025, where the collective erected a statue titled “Best Friends Forever,” depicting Trump and Epstein skipping while holding hands [5]. That previous piece faced immediate regulatory hurdles, being removed by U.S. Park Police for permit violations within 24 hours of its debut, only to reappear briefly in October and November at different locations around the capital [1]. The current birthday card installation is permitted to remain on site until Friday, January 23, 2026 [1][5].
The Stalled Release of Justice Department Files
Beyond the interpersonal dynamics of Trump and Epstein, the installation underscores a systemic failure regarding transparency in the Epstein case. Legislation had set a deadline of December 19, 2025, for the full release of all Epstein-related files, a mandate that has effectively been missed [5]. Earlier in January 2026, the Justice Department released a tranche of 12,285 documents; however, this represents a fraction of the total archive, with over 2 million pages still under review [5]. Quantifying this backlog reveals the slow pace of disclosure: the released documents constitute approximately 0.614% of the material currently being processed. This significant delay continues to fuel public skepticism and motivates protest actions like those seen on the Mall this week [5].