Mysterious gold television at National Mall shows Trump and Epstein dancing

A mysterious gold-sprayed television installation has appeared on the National Mall, displaying footage of Donald Trump dancing alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, prompting an angry response from the White House which called the anonymous artists "liberal activists masquerading as 'artists'" while mockingly praising the president's "legendary dance moves."

The Golden TV Installation

The golden TV installation stands 8 feet tall and plays a 15-second loop of Trump awkwardly dancing, with some footage showing him alongside Jeffrey Epstein. Positioned in the exact same location as the previous "Dictator Approved" sculpture that featured Trump's thumbs-up crushing Lady Liberty's crown, this new piece directly quotes the White House's dismissive response to the earlier artwork. The installation includes a plaque that sarcastically references the administration's statement: "In the United States of America you have the freedom to display your so-called 'art,' no matter how ugly it is."The Daily Beast+2

The mysterious artwork has been permitted by the National Park Service to remain on display from June 26 to June 29, 2025. While the creators remain anonymous, permit documents list a "Mary Harris" as the contact—suspected to be a reference to labor activist "Mother Jones," famous for challenging powerful figures. This installation appears to be part of a series of politically charged sculptures that have appeared in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Portland since autumn, all sharing a similar artistic style but lacking signatures.Washingtonian - The website that Washington lives by.+2

White House's Furious Response

The White House's reaction to the Trump-Epstein dancing sculpture was swift and hostile. Press aide Abigail Jackson issued a scathing statement to The Washington Post, declaring: "Wow, these liberal activists masquerading as 'artists,' are dumber than I thought!" Her response continued with an attempt at sarcasm, claiming she had "tricked them into taking down their ugly sculpture and replacing it with a beautiful video of the President's legendary dance moves that will bring joy and inspiration to all tourists traversing our National Mall."Economic Times+2

This response follows a pattern established with the previous "Dictator Approved" installation, where Jackson similarly dismissed the work as an "eye-sore of a sculpture." The administration's combative stance has ironically been incorporated into the new installation itself, with the artists using the White House's own words about freedom to display "so-called 'art,' no matter how ugly it is" on a plaque accompanying the golden TV. This self-referential element has transformed the administration's dismissal into part of the artwork itself, creating a meta-commentary on political speech and artistic expression.The Daily Beast+1

Anonymous Artists' Political Statement

The anonymous artists behind the Trump-Epstein dancing installation appear to be the same group responsible for previous political sculptures, including the "Dictator Approved" statue and last year's controversial "poop statue" that mockingly honored January 6 rioters. Their work consistently employs provocative imagery to deliver pointed political commentary, with the golden TV installation representing their latest effort to challenge the Trump administration through public art. The timing of these installations—appearing shortly after Trump's military parade that critics compared to authoritarian displays in countries like North Korea, Russia, and China—suggests a deliberate artistic strategy to spark discourse about democracy and authoritarianism.The Daily Beast+2

While maintaining their anonymity, the artists have established a pattern of obtaining proper National Park Service permits for their installations. Documents obtained by Washingtonian confirm the same contacts were listed for both the "Dictator Approved" sculpture and the Trump-Epstein dancing TV, indicating a coordinated artistic campaign rather than isolated incidents. Their approach mirrors that of anonymous political artists like Banksy, using public spaces to deliver social commentary while allowing their message about presidential conduct and associations to stand independently of any individual artist's identity.Washingtonian - The website that Washington lives by.+1