Satirical Gold Toilet Monument Erected Near Lincoln Memorial to Mock Trump's Priorities
Visitors to the Lincoln Memorial this week are encountering an unexpected addition: a satirical monument featuring a gold toilet mounted on a 10-foot-tall marble throne. The installation, created by anonymous artists, directly mocks former President Donald Trump for making the renovation of the Lincoln Bathroom at the White House a top priority during his administration.
A Throne Fit For a King with a Critical Message
The faux marble structure, titled "A Throne Fit For A King," was installed early Monday morning. A plaque on the throne delivers a biting critique, reading: "In a time of unprecedented division, escalating conflict, and economic turmoil, President Trump focused on what truly mattered: remodeling the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House." It continues, "This, his crowning achievement, is a bold reminder that the President isn't just a businessman, he's taking care of business. It stands as a tribute to an unwavering visionary who looked down, saw a problem, and painted it gold."
A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the provocative installation.
The Secret Handshake: Anonymous Artists Behind the Satire
The group responsible for the monument is known as The Secret Handshake, a collective of anonymous artists who have been placing satirical monuments targeting Trump across Washington, D.C., for years. They typically install their works in the early morning hours to maintain anonymity.
A spokesperson for The Secret Handshake stated that the throne is designed for public interaction, allowing people to sit on it and take photographs. The installation is located down the stairs on the southwest side of the Lincoln Memorial and will remain on display for several days.
History of Provocative Installations
This is not the first controversial work by The Secret Handshake. Earlier this month, the group installed a 12-foot statue near the U.S. Capitol depicting Trump embracing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, styled after the fictional lovers in the film "Titanic."
Their previous projects include:
- A giant bronze turd "honoring" Trump
- A follow-up monument with mini poop statues
- A massive reproduction of a creepy birthday message allegedly sent by Trump to Epstein
- A statue of Trump and Epstein holding hands and prancing together on the National Mall
The last statue mentioned was ordered to be torn down by the U.S. Park Police during the night shortly after its installation, reportedly due to "internal pressure" from the Trump administration. The artists later restored the statue, intentionally leaving visible "scars" from its destruction.
Inspired by Actual White House Renovations
The new gold toilet monument closely resembles Trump's actual redesign of the bathroom attached to the Lincoln Bedroom. In October of last year, Trump boasted about these renovations on social media, posting two dozen photos of the finished work. He explained, "I renovated the Lincoln Bathroom in the White House. It was renovated in the 1940s in an art deco green tile style, which was totally inappropriate for the Lincoln Era. I did it in black and white polished Statuary marble. This was very appropriate for the time of Abraham Lincoln and, in fact, could be the marble that was originally there!" Notably, in the actual renovation, only the toilet's handle is gold, unlike the entirely gold toilet in the satirical monument.
This latest installation by The Secret Handshake continues their tradition of using public art to critique political figures and highlight perceived misaligned priorities, sparking conversation among visitors and observers in the nation's capital.
