National Mall protest installation enlarges alleged Trump-Epstein birthday note as Epstein files dispute continues
A new political artwork appears near the Capitol
A large protest-art installation depicting an alleged 2003 birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein appeared on the National Mall on Monday, January 19, 2026, in a highly trafficked corridor near the U.S. Capitol. The display reproduces, at large scale, a note that has been at the center of renewed controversy over Epstein-related records and the authenticity of a message attributed to President Donald Trump.
The installation was placed with a permit allowing it to remain through Friday. Its creators identify themselves publicly as “The Secret Handshake,” an anonymous group that has previously staged political artworks on or near the Mall targeting Trump and other figures.
What the installation shows and how visitors are invited to interact
The centerpiece is an oversized replica of the disputed birthday note, presented as a placard approximately 10 feet high and 12 feet wide. The reproduction includes a crude sketch of a nude female form and typed text arranged within the outline. In front of the placard, the artists added a set of mock filing-cabinet drawers labeled “The Files,” with paper strips spilling outward, framing the work as a commentary on the broader public argument over “Epstein files.”
The site also includes markers and an invitation for passersby to leave written messages. Posted instructions ask participants to avoid promotional content and prohibit violent or hateful statements, indicating that prohibited content will be removed.
How the disputed birthday note entered public view
The message reproduced in the installation has been publicly discussed since mid-2025, when it was reported as part of a “birthday book” compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. In that reporting, the note was described as containing several lines of typed text and a drawing, with a signature presented as Trump’s.
In addition, a tranche of Epstein-related materials was later released by a congressional committee as part of its handling of documents tied to Epstein’s estate. The National Mall artwork explicitly references those document releases and the unresolved questions they have fueled.
Trump’s response and related litigation
Trump has publicly denied authoring the birthday note and disputed the authenticity of the signature. The dispute has moved beyond public statements into the courts: Trump filed a defamation lawsuit in July 2025 seeking at least $10 billion in damages against the Wall Street Journal’s publisher, related corporate entities, and Rupert Murdoch, among others. The defendants have said they stand by their reporting and plan to contest the suit.
Context: a pattern of temporary protest installations on the Mall
The Secret Handshake has used the National Mall repeatedly for short-duration, permit-based installations. Prior works have included a statue depicting Trump and Epstein holding hands and other satirical pieces aimed at contemporary political controversies. Monday’s installation continues that approach: a temporary, physically prominent artwork paired with participatory elements designed to draw attention to a national political dispute that remains active in both public discourse and ongoing legal proceedings.