A satirical statue depicting President Donald Trump and the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was erected in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on the National Mall in February 2026. The temporary statue, titled “King of the World” and a play on a scene from the film Titanic, drew large crowds and was widely shared on social media.
The Installation
The statue was placed in front of the U.S. Capitol on the National Mall. It depicted President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. The work was described as satirical and temporary, and it appeared in February 2026.
The title of the piece was “King of the World.” The title was described as a play on a scene from the film Titanic. The installation was documented by Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images.
The National Mall as a Political Field
NPR described the installation as part of a “propaganda war” on the National Mall between the Trump administration and its critics. In that account, the president's image is displayed on federal buildings while satirical statues and posters are placed below.
The source text places the statue within that contest over public space and political image. The statue stood in front of the U.S. Capitol, while the broader setting was the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Crowds and Circulation
The temporary statue attracted large crowds. It was also widely shared on social media. Those are the only audience details provided in the source text.
The article on the statue was published by NPR on April 1, 2026. The installation itself took place in February 2026.
The source material identifies the statue as satirical and temporary, names its title, and places it in the context of a struggle over images on the National Mall. It does not provide additional details about the creators of the statue, the response from officials, or any further events after the installation.