Statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands is back on D.C.'s National Mall

"However, the National Park Service toppled the original 12-foot statue that was dismantled into smaller pieces early on Sept. 24 and only granted approval to add the statue back in its original location after multiple requests. Driving the news: "Just like a toppled confederate general forced back onto a public square, the Donald Trump Jeffrey Epstein statue has risen from the rubble to stand gloriously on the National Mall once again," the artists said in an email announcing the protest statue's return ."

"D.C.-based location manager Carol Flaisher was contracted by the Secret Handshake, which said she applied for the appropriate freedom of speech permit two days ago following several other denied attempts. The original statue was titled "Best Friends Forever," but once it was removed, the artists renamed the piece "Why can't we be friends?," according to the group. Flashback: Secret Handshake reported that the statue was physically destroyed during removal, and the permit was revoked without explanation from the deputy director of the NPS."

"An Interior Department spokesperson said officials took the action one day after it was erected because "it was not compliant with the permit issued." What they're saying: "In the end, we thought Trump was the guy INTO rebuilding old statues of racist relics, and - as a racist relic himself - assumed he would want to rebuild his own image," Secret Handshake said in Thursday's email. "Not sure what changed?""

The National Park Service toppled the original 12-foot statue, dismantling it into smaller pieces early on Sept. 24. Approval to reinstall the statue at its original location was granted only after multiple requests. The artists initially titled the work "Best Friends Forever" and renamed it "Why can't we be friends?" after removal. D.C.-based location manager Carol Flaisher applied for a freedom of speech permit two days earlier following several denied attempts. Secret Handshake reported the statue was physically destroyed during removal and said the permit was revoked without explanation by the deputy director of the NPS. An Interior Department spokesperson said officials removed the statue because it "was not compliant with the permit issued."

Read at Axios