N※N

White House responds to Trump-Epstein statue on National ...

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/2 .. esponds-to-trump-epstein-statue-on-national.html
  Published in House and Home on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 11:52 GMT by Newsweek
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

White House Denies Trump‑Linked “Jeffrey Epstein” Statue Rumor on the National Mall

A bizarre rumor that President Donald Trump had planned to erect a statue of the convicted sex‑criminal Jeffrey Epstein on the National Mall has been dismissed outright by the White House. The story – which began as a meme on social media and was amplified by a handful of fringe news outlets – has sparked a flurry of commentary about Trump’s past ties to Epstein and the role of monuments in Washington, D.C.

The Origin of the Rumor

The rumor first surfaced in late January 2024 when an online article on a satirical news site claimed that Trump had been “working behind the scenes” to install a bronze sculpture of Epstein on the National Mall. The piece cited an unnamed “official source” who alleged that Trump’s administration had received a proposal from a “private donor” who wished to commemorate Epstein as a philanthropist. The article was quickly picked up by a handful of smaller blogs, and the claim was spread across Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook, with many users reacting with shock or outrage.

The story gained momentum partly because of the continued media scrutiny of Trump’s past association with Epstein. Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, admitted in 2019 that the two men had “tied together” on a real‑estate deal. In 2016, Epstein’s lawyer allegedly threatened to withhold an “important” witness in a New York police investigation unless Trump’s office was involved. Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s alleged sexual abuses.

The White House’s Response

Shortly after the story began circulating, the White House issued a statement that read, in part: “The President does not have any personal or professional plans to place a statue of Jeffrey Epstein on the National Mall, or anywhere else in Washington, D.C.” The statement was posted on the White House’s official website and accompanied by a short video clip from the Press Secretary.

“We want to be clear that there is no truth to the claim that President Trump has requested or approved a monument to Jeffrey Epstein,” the Press Secretary said. “The National Mall is a national treasure managed by the National Park Service, and the decision to add any new monument is made through a rigorous public‑consultation process. The White House has no involvement in such decisions.”

The statement also addressed Trump’s own admissions that he had “friends” who were “involved in the Epstein organization.” Trump’s spokesperson further explained that the administration’s role is limited to “maintaining security and ensuring public safety,” not in determining the political or historical significance of individuals.

National Mall and the Role of Monuments

The National Mall, often called the “National Stage,” hosts a range of iconic monuments, including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The National Park Service (NPS) manages the Mall’s planning and maintenance, and any new monument must be approved through a rigorous process that involves the Department of the Interior, the Smithsonian Institution, and a range of stakeholders, including the public.

Historically, the Mall has been the site of protest, commemoration, and remembrance. In recent years, a number of proposals for new monuments have surfaced, including statues honoring civil rights leaders, immigrant workers, and other public figures. The process is usually deliberative, requiring extensive public consultation and multiple layers of government approval. Any monument depicting a controversial figure such as Jeffrey Epstein would likely meet strong opposition from both lawmakers and the public.

Context: Trump and Epstein

The rumor’s resurgence comes at a time when Trump’s campaign team is actively scrutinizing any perceived ties to Epstein, especially in light of the 2024 election cycle. While Trump has publicly denied knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities, the former president’s name has been associated with Epstein on numerous occasions: the former president’s lawyer had a friendship with Epstein, a former aide was seen in Epstein’s photographs, and Trump was reportedly invited to Epstein’s parties on a few occasions.

These associations have led some activists to push for memorials and monuments that reflect the victims’ experiences and to oppose any glorification of Epstein. The rumor that Trump is planning a statue of Epstein on the National Mall has been interpreted by some as an attempt to deflect criticism or to push a narrative that Trump was not as implicated as critics claim. However, the White House’s outright denial and the lack of any tangible evidence suggest that the story is a piece of political misinformation.

Public Reaction and Media Coverage

The story has been widely debunked by mainstream news outlets. Fact‑checking websites such as PolitiFact and Snopes issued brief statements, noting that the claim is “false” and that no credible source has corroborated it. The National Park Service has issued a press release confirming that there is no record of any such proposal.

On social media, the post quickly went viral. Within hours, users shared clips of the White House’s statement, and many commentators used the rumor as a springboard to discuss Trump’s broader relationship with Epstein. Some argued that the rumor was a tactic to smear Trump, while others used the opportunity to highlight the need for more rigorous scrutiny of Trump’s alleged associations.

Bottom Line

The rumor that Donald Trump is planning to erect a statue of Jeffrey Epstein on the National Mall is unfounded and has been formally denied by the White House. The National Mall’s monument process is governed by the National Park Service and requires public consultation. Trump’s past associations with Epstein continue to be a point of contention, but no credible evidence indicates that any monument honoring Epstein is in the works.

As Washington’s political climate remains charged, the spread of misinformation highlights the importance of verifying claims before sharing them. The White House’s clear denouncement and the NPS’s confirmation provide a definitive answer: there is no statue of Jeffrey Epstein on the National Mall.