A towering protest installation has appeared on Washington’s National Mall, reviving controversy around former President Donald Trump and his past association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The display, a 10-foot-tall replica of an alleged birthday card, surfaced on Monday, January 19—just a day ahead of what would have been Epstein’s 73rd birthday. Its appearance comes months after a July 2025 report by The Wall Street Journal brought renewed attention to the card and sparked legal action from Trump.

What is the installation, and why is it controversial?

The oversized card recreates a message reportedly sent to Epstein for his birthday in 2003, when the two men were known to socialize within elite New York and Palm Beach circles.

According to reporting, the card was part of a “birthday book” assembled by Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which included notes from several prominent divs, among them former Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner.

One half of the replica depicts a nude female outline. The name “Jeffrey Epstein” appears as part of the illustration, while the signature “Donald” is stylized as pubic hair. The message includes the line: “Happy Birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

The other half reads, “Happy Birthday To A ‘Terrific Guy!’” and features blank spaces inviting passersby to write their own comments directed at the Trump administration.

Who put it up?

The installation was created by a group calling itself The Secret Handshake, which has previously staged provocative political art displays in Washington.

Last fall, the same group erected another piece portraying Trump and Epstein in a playful pose, titled “Best Friends Forever.” That installation also drew sharp reactions, blending satire with accusations about proximity and power.

The group has not released a formal statement with the new display, but the timing and placement suggest a deliberate effort to reignite public debate.

Trump’s response and lawsuit

Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in creating the card. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he rejected the allegation outright.

“This is not me. This is a fake thing. It’s a fake Wall Street Journal story,” Trump said, adding that he does not draw and that the language does not resemble his own.

Following the report, Trump filed a $10 million lawsuit against the Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, accusing them of publishing false information. Despite the ongoing lawsuit, Trump later hosted Murdoch for dinner at the White House, an apparent contradiction that drew further scrutiny.

How the card became public

The Wall Street Journal did not initially publish an image of the card. However, the document later entered the public record after being released by Epstein’s estate lawyers to the House Oversight Committee, giving lawmakers and investigators access to the material.

The committee has not publicly authenticated the card’s authorship, and the allegations surrounding it remain disputed.

Why this matters

The National Mall installation highlights how unresolved questions surrounding Epstein’s social network continue to surface in public life—often through art, protest, and spectacle rather than court rulings.

For critics, the display underscores concerns about elite accountability and historical proximity to Epstein. For Trump and his supporters, it represents a defamatory claim amplified through political theater.

Either way, the installation demonstrates how visual protest can reignite controversy long after legal arguments have moved to the background.

TL;DR

• A 10-foot replica of an alleged Trump birthday card to Epstein appeared on the National Mall.
• The display references a 2003 card reported by The Wall Street Journal.
• Trump denies authorship and has sued the paper and Rupert Murdoch for $10 million.
• The installation was created by The Secret Handshake, known for provocative political art.
• The episode revives debate over Trump’s past ties to Epstein and the use of protest art in political discourse.