The installation, which stands about 10 feet tall, was put up overnight on Sunday by a group calling itself The Secret Handshake. (Photo: X/@melissayki)m A large protest artwork showing a replica of an alleged birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein bearing Donald Trump’s name has appeared on the National Mall in Washington, CNN reported.
The installation, which stands about 10 feet tall, was put up overnight on Sunday by a group calling itself The Secret Handshake. One side reproduces a note that was part of a collection of letters gifted to Epstein in the early 2000s.
The note includes an outline of a naked woman, the name “Donald”, and ends with the line: “Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret”. The other side of the display reads: “Happy Birthday To A ‘Terrific Guy!’”
There’s a new display from The Secret Handshake on the National Mall this morning:
A ten foot birthday card from President Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.
“Visitors are encouraged to ‘sign’ the card with their own personal message to the administration.”
It’ll be there until Friday. pic.twitter.com/KrKBjco85E
— Melissa Y. Kim (@melissaykim) January 19, 2026
Epstein’s birthday is January 20. A plaque placed near the artwork invites members of the public to sign the card with messages addressed to the Trump administration.
In a statement cited by CNN, The Secret Handshake said the installation is permitted to remain on the National Mall until Friday, January 23. It has contacted the National Park Service for further information.
The note was first reported by The Wall Street Journal last July. Trump has denied writing or signing the message and has said he did not have a close relationship with Epstein. He has sued the newspaper over the report and suggested someone else may have written the note and signed his name.
Story continues below this ad
Trump has not been accused of any legal wrongdoing related to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The letter appeared in a “birthday book” compiled by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The book was included in documents released by the House Oversight Committee last September and contained photos, notes and personal material from different stages of Epstein’s life.
The artwork has appeared as the Trump administration faces growing pressure to release more Epstein-related files. The US Justice Department said earlier this month that it has released 12,285 documents so far, while more than two million records are still being reviewed. A law passed last year set a December 19, 2025 deadline for the full release of the files.
The Secret Handshake has previously installed protest artworks targeting Trump, including a statue last year showing Trump and Epstein holding hands, as well as other displays placed in Washington in recent years.
