Anonymous pranksters “The Secret Handshake” had to do some “reforging” of their now-infamous Epstein/Trump friendship statue before they got it back on The White House lawn on Thursday.
Photos obtained exclusively by The Daily Beast reveal the damage the statue suffered when it was taken down by the United States Park Police at 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 24 in violation of the permit The Secret Handshake received from the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI).
One photo shows that President Donald Trump’s head was sliced clear in half during the takedown. A second shows that Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s arms, still clasped together in the bonds of friendship, were snapped off their respective bodies during the toppling.
Repairing the statue, which is composed of foam, plastic, metal wiring, rods, and wood, cost a sum “in the thousands,” the artist said, though they did not provide a specific number.
The artists provided the Daily Beast with exclusive photos of what they said was “our property that the government officials took away and destroyed without our permission.”
The Secret Handshake said they worked tirelessly to repair the statue and obtain a new permit to get it back on display. It currently stands on 3rd street, down the street from the United States Capitol Building.
The first time the group erected the statue, they had obtained a DOI permit. A DOI spokesperson told The Daily Beast that the statue was not compliant with the permit, though a copy of the permit they gave the Daily Beast did not demonstrate how the statue was not compliant.
The document also revealed the DOI was required to give The Secret Handshake 24 hours notice before they took the statue down. However there was no notice given before they smashed the statue to bits.
This time, the statue stands on the strength of a “Freedom of Speech” permit, the group said. “There is a special stipulation that if they receive it and acknowledge it and don’t outright reject it in 24 or 48 hours, then it is considered granted,” a Secret Handshake artist told the Daily Beast. “So it’s almost like a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell situation.’”
With the government shutdown, there may not be enough manpower in the federal government to review the case of the statue and get it taken down within that time frame.
Trump will launch nukes before admitting he fucked kids.
Man, if there was nothing to the Epstein “hoax”, you wouldn’t think that Orange Jesus and his thugs would be so sensitive about it…
Also, I wonder if those employees have been ID’ed yet.
Epstein and Trump’s hands remained clasped together even as their arms were separated from their respective bodies.
A bond so strong it could not be broken
Honestly it’s so fucking metal now. Like the statue was already funny, but the fact that they can’t break their hands apart is some symbolic shit. Can’t wait for people to find the pieces a thousand years later and make allegories and shit about this.
Your bond is unbreakable
Your hands can’t be washed clean
You’ll both be dragged down to hell together, your sinful bond engraved for eternity
“We have certain things in common, Jeffrey…”
they should put that on a plaque on the resurrected statue.
They should “fix” it by just putting it back together, while not fixing the damage.
Curious that the spurious argument about displaying our history was once again proved bullshit by fascists taking down a statue.
Should start a crowd funding campaign to make an even bigger version out of something hard to damage like steel. Make it a regularly scheduled display throughout his entire term.
Textbook first amendment violation
One photo shows that President Donald Trump’s head was sliced clear in half
They should be looking for the goon who did that. He’s one sick fucker. Who would imagine doing that to our glorious leader?
it’s symbolic of Dear-Leader’s deteriorating mental state.
The first time the group erected the statue, they had obtained a DOI permit. A DOI spokesperson told The Daily Beast that the statue was not compliant with the permit, though a copy of the permit they gave the Daily Beast did not demonstrate how the statue was not compliant.
The document also revealed the DOI was required to give The Secret Handshake 24 hours notice before they took the statue down. However there was no notice given before they smashed the statue to bits.
Laws for thee.
Ok. But is there a desk-sized version yet?
Srsly. Anybody have a .stl?
I would value that statue in the millions, I hope the owner is fairly compensated
If it was me, I’d’ve hidden livestreaming cameras and air tags inside, to catch whoever damaged it.
Enigmas never age.
Supposedly, it was an in-joke that Enigma is an anagram of Gamine [a small, mischievous girl].
People argue against that by saying that „Gamine“ isn‘t a word they can imagine Trump using.
But we do know that Trump will use and use and use words that he‘s heard, and we know that Epstein at least was eloquent. As for someone who might know the word „gamine“ just as a matter of course, I wonder if either of them might know someone who was born in France to French parents. Might even have a French first name…?
I could very much imagine Maxwell & Epstein coming up with „Enigmas“ as an oh-so-clever code, and Trump picking it up so he can feel like a clever and special boy, too.
Those aren’t even cuts for a purpose, like fitting into a vehicle or storage. Just vandalizing a criticism of Dear Leader.
