There’s a new statue on the east end of the National Mall for Washington DC residents and tourists to enjoy. The bronze statue shows two men frolicking, grinning wide and holding hands, each with a foot joyously kicked back.

“We celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein,” a plaque at the bottom of the spray-painted bronze installation reads. A permit from the National Park Service will allow the statue to stay on the National Mall grounds through 8pm on Sunday.

The fabricator of the statue remains unknown, but it has artistic and thematic similarities to recent art pieces critical of the president.

Past sculptures on the National Mall that paid side-eyed tribute to Trump include a bronze pile of poop perched on a congressional desk to “honor” January 6th protestors, and a statue titled “Dictator Approved,” featuring a golden thumbs up crushing the Statue of Liberty’s crown and the base featuring approving quotes of Trump from Vladimir Putin, Jair Bolsonaro, Kim Jong-un and Viktor Orbán.

The sculpture’s spotlight on Trump’s past relationship with the convicted sex trafficker underscores what has been a particularly persistent thorn in the president’s side, and has caused fissures in the Trump’s typically united Maga base.

While the president has worked to quash interest into the two’s former friendship, the issue continues to surface again and again.

An alleged letter from Trump to Epstein in the latter’s 50th birthday book included a drawing of a nude woman’s torso asserting that the two had “certain things in common” and that “enigmas never age”. Trump is far from the only notable presence in Epstein’s birthday book and flight logs, with other big names including the former president Bill Clinton and attorney Alan Dershowitz.

Lines from the alleged birthday letter are printed verbatim on the statue’s plaques – one beneath Trump’s feet, one beneath Epstein’s and another on the third honoring “Friendship Month,” that features two outstretched hands forming a heart

The president offered the press a scathing response to the statue.

“Liberals are free to waste their money however they see fit – but it’s not news that Epstein knew Donald Trump, because Donald Trump kicked Epstein out of his club for being a creep,” a statement from the White House read.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Kennedy Center Sunday evening for a prayer vigil after Charlie Kirk’s murder at Utah Valley University.

Members of Congress and the Trump cabinet were among those reflecting on Kirk’s legacy and how his death is impacting the country.

“The leaders of the nation have been shaken, as have university students and college students and young people all across the country — the ground was shifted beneath us. We all felt it deep, deep,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson. “In spite of that, we remember that our dear friend Charlie would never want us to be overcome by despair.”

While prominent leaders attended the prayer vigil inside the Kennedy Center, lines of people waiting to get in for the prayer vigil formed outside.

National Guard troops — some with long guns — maintained presence on and near the property. There were officers from several different local and federal agencies in their cars and on foot.

A lone protester with a megaphone made anti-Trump statements, but the vigil went on as planned.

Some participants told News4 they didn’t necessarily know or agree with all of Kirk’s views, but they wanted to pay their respects.

“Talking, but not fighting with each other or swearing at each other or throwing things at each other, so I admire that greatly,” said Jim Norris who was waiting in line.

“I’m just showing my respect for Charlie Kirk,” said Esther Hyun, another attendee. “I admire him, and I think he was such a good debater.”

Inside the event, speakers reflected on Kirk’s life and legacy, condemning the violence that took his life on Wednesday in front of thousands of people who had shown up for his Turning Point USA event.

While his critics describe him as divisive and wrong on his views, those at the vigil said they appreciated his willingness to stand for what he believed in and have open dialogue.

“I admire his style of giving opinion and or his belief and listening to another person,” said Nancy Ferrell.

“I think part of why he founded that organization was people felt kind of isolated, and that’s when people tend to lash out,” said another attendee. “They feel like they’re not being heard.”

A memorial service for Kirk is scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. President Donald Trump says he will attend the service.

Layla Bunch may only be 17 years old, but she has already accomplished more than many her age could ever dream. She attends the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Northwest D.C. as an opera singer and music theater student.

She recently returned from Europe, where she and other students performed opera in France and Italy, including at the 1,000th anniversary of Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral in France.

“While we were performing there, our voices just rang throughout the cathedral, and it was just so beautiful and so touching,” Bunch said. “While I was in Italy, we were studying at an opera school, and we were five out of six of the youngest people there.”

Bunch was one of several Duke students preparing to perform Saturday for the “Culture on the Corner” showcase, which is part of D.C.’s Art All Night festival. The showcase brings together students and alumni from the art school to perform music, visual art and spoken word.

This year’s edition features a special performance with Bunch, joined by Grammy-winning artists Headliner and Rasa Don, of the hip-hop band Arrested Development, as well as harmonica virtuoso Frédéric Yonnet.

‘Opera is the base’

“Ever since I was younger, I’ve loved performing, and I’ve loved watching performances,” Bunch said.

Her journey began in the sixth grade after a teacher asked her to sing an opera song for a good grade. The teacher then recommended that she apply to Duke.

“Opera is the base of all music, kind of like ballet is the base of all dances, and Shakespeare is the base of all theater,” Bunch said. “It’s one of the main things that you need to learn.”

While she is taking advantage of all the opportunities that Duke has helped her achieve, she still has more goals to pursue. Bunch said she still has objectives to complete unrelated to her music career.

“I really do want to go to college so I can again learn and gain new experiences, because you truly never stop learning,” she said, adding that the European trip gave her a “head start” to dorm life.

Exhibition life

Sasha Goecke, 16, loves being creative. She told WTOP that she can put together jewelry and clothing, as well as write, draw, paint and take photographs.

As part of the showcase, she created two fashion pieces that will be on display in “The Adolescent Perspective” exhibit. Goecke first created a ski mask, also known as a “Sheisty,” out of rubber bands. She also created a Met Gala-style gown made entirely of soda tabs she had been collecting since the fifth grade.

“I watched this movie about Joan of Arc, and she had chain mail on,” Goecke said. “I thought it was really interesting how the metal linked together, and I wanted to try and recreate that.”

Alum Cire Wilson discovered his love for photography while attending Duke. Now, alongside fellow Duke alumnus Locke Randall, they are the founders of photography company Elemental Studios.

The duo first created at the Anacostia Arts Center before bringing it to the Saturday event. Now, they hope to build new relationships to continue living out their artistic dreams.

“(Photography) just became a passion where I can express myself and my views through a lens,” Wilson said, who added he hopes his art will keep him connected to his D.C. roots.

“It started from being in yearbook and just doing little shoots from here and there, doing events and doing just stuff around the school,” Randall said. “But I fell in love with it, so I wanted to pursue it. I knew in my heart that I was an artist at heart.”

Meanwhile, as Arrested Development and Yonnet finish their rehearsal on Friday night, Benjamin “Benji” Rivera, 16, strokes his paintbrush up against a wall where he is making his first mural.

Generally used to paint on canvases, Rivera said his goal was to show iconic events, such as the H Street Festival, in full color.

“I typically like to do stuff like this, where it’s leading heavy more into the color, and kind of bending more like the representational and making it playful and just more childlike,” he said.

The student hopes not only to build connections through his work but to find opportunities outside the norm. Instead of one canvas that a collector could purchase, Rivera wants to create art that “everybody could appreciate it.”

“My hope is to just like reach out and touch places that don’t really necessarily get recognized or get appreciated,” Rivera said. “Just have working spaces there to just brighten it up.”

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