A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets. The appearance of a golden statue depicting Donald Trump and the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein as doomed lovers from the movie Titanic is confronting Washington with a murkier mystery.

The nearly 12ft sculpture, unveiled on Tuesday on the National Mall, is the third piece of guerrilla art satirising Trump’s past relationship with Epstein attributed to The Secret Handshake, a shadowy collective whose members remain anonymous.

It is not known if the statues are related to a “Jeffrey Epstein Walk of Shame” recently installed in Farragut Square, a public park close to the White House, that featured Hollywood-like stars with the names of prominent figures tied to Epstein.

But together the interventions appear determined to keep the Epstein files, where Trump’s name appears thousands of times, in the public spotlight despite the war in Iran and myriad other distractions.

The latest sculpture recreates the famous scene from the 1997 blockbuster Titanic in which the lovers Jack and Rose, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet stand at the prow of the ill-fated ocean liner, with Jack proclaiming: “I’m the king of the world!”

Trump stands behind Epstein with arms outstretched as the pair face the distant spire of the Washington Monument, mounted on a replica of the bow of the ship. The installation, titled “King of the World” and spray-painted gold, is accompanied by plaques offering a pointed commentary on the pair’s past association.

“The tragic love story between Jack and Rose was built on luxurious travel, raucous parties, and secret nude sketches,” one reads. “This monument honors the bond between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, a friendship seemingly built on luxurious travel, raucous parties and secret nude sketches.”

Nearby, a row of 10 banners displays a photograph of Trump and Epstein together along with the slogan “Make America Safe Again”. Each bears the insignia of the Department of Justice, with the word “Justice” conspicuously redacted.

The Secret Handshake reportedly use intermediaries to secure permits from the National Park Service. Last September the artists erected a statue called “Best Friends Forever”, showing the two men holding hands with one leg kicked playfully behind them.

In January, they placed a giant replica of a crude birthday message allegedly sent to Epstein in 2003 and signed “Donald”. Trump has denied writing the note, saying the signature was not his.

The Washington Post newspaper reported that the permit for the new installation lists a start date but curiously has its end date blacked out, leaving it unclear how long the statue might remain on the Mall – or whether the redaction itself is part of the artists’ stunt.

The White House swiftly condemned the display. Abigail Jackson, a deputy press secretary, suggested the work reflected political double standards. “When will these wealthy Democrat donors create sculptures of Democrats .. who continued to solicit money and meetings from Epstein after he was convicted as a sex offender?” she told the Post.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he has been “totally exonerated” by the release of millions of pages of records related to the Epstein investigation.

He and Epstein were long acquainted in social circles in Florida. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Trump has said the pair had a falling-out in the mid-2000s and insists he knew nothing of Epstein’s criminal behaviour.

More recently, renewed scrutiny followed the publication of letters written for a 2003 book celebrating Epstein’s 50th birthday, including one depicting the outline of a naked woman alleged to have been signed by Trump. “Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret,” it said.