Protest Art Group Unveils Trump 'Participation Trophy'

The anonymous protest art group, The Secret Handshake, unveiled a 10-foot-tall satirical trophy on the National Mall this week, mocking President Donald Trump's involvement in the Iran war. The installation, made of wood, foam, and plaster, is a "participation trophy" awarded to Trump "for his enthusiastic involvement in the Iran war." The group stated that the trophy acknowledges Trump's "courage to participate regardless of the final score," contrasting his approach with concerns about military strategy, diplomacy, or measurable outcomes.

The Secret Handshake is known for previous installations on the National Mall, including a statue of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein and a depiction of them in the movie Titanic. They also created an arcade game about the Iran war designed to be impossible to win. The "Iran War Participation Trophy" is situated near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the Tidal Basin. It features a loving cup design with "#1" on the cup and "Participant" on the base.

According to an email to Fast Company, The Secret Handshake commented on the trophy's message, stating, "We didn’t make up the idea of a big dumb trophy as being important. He did." They referenced Trump's comment about not needing to think about peace after not winning the Nobel Prize, highlighting the current destruction and loss of life in Iran. The display also invites visitors to contribute their own trophies, with several plastic trophies already placed at its base.