WASHINGTON, D.C. (Erie News Now) – On the National Mall in Washington this week, a different kind of statue was — briefly — on display. 

Tuesday morning, a statue showing President Donald Trump holding hands and skipping with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was unveiled on the National Mall, near the Capitol. 

A plaque underneath read: “In honor of Friendship Month, we celebrate the long-lasting bond between President Donald J. Trump and his ‘closest friend,’ Jeffrey Epstein.” 

The group behind the effort calls itself “The Secret Handshake.” The group received a permit from the National Park Service to keep the statue up through Sunday. 

But early Wednesday morning, U.S. Park Police were seen loading it into a truck — removing it one day after it was installed. 

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior told Erie News Now: “The statue was removed because it was not compliant with the permit issued,” but did not specify how it was not compliant. 

The statue’s removal comes as pressure builds to release more Epstein files. President Trump has consistently downplayed his relationship with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.