A wave of sharp criticism erupted in Washington after a monumental banner featuring President Donald Trump's face was placed on the facade of the Department of Justice. The blue sheet with the slogan "Make America Safe Again" sparked a flurry of accusations about politicizing an institution that had previously been independent. Critics, including Democratic Party politicians and the former FBI director, point to dangerous associations with the cult of personality characteristic of authoritarian systems.

Banner Installation on DOJ

A large-format sheet featuring the face of Donald Trump and the slogan "Make America Safe Again" was hung on the headquarters of the Department of Justice in Washington.

Accusations of Authoritarianism

Critics and media, including The Guardian and Independent, compare the aesthetics of the new visual narrative to the style of totalitarian states.

Blow to Independence

Democrats warn that this is another step by the president aimed at subjugating agencies that traditionally maintained distance from the White House.

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, federal workers installed a massive banner on the facade of the Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters in Washington. The installation features a portrait of Donald Trump and the slogan "Make America Safe Again". This event is interpreted by observers as a symbolic demonstration of the White House's full control over law enforcement agencies, which in the past have conducted investigations against the current president. Similar propaganda materials have previously appeared on other government buildings in the U.S. capital. The reaction from the public and political class was immediate. California Governor Gavin Newsom described this action as going beyond the bounds of parody, and numerous commentators on social media began comparing the aesthetics of Washington's streets to the political landscape of North Korea. The former FBI director also spoke out, expressing concern about the erosion of the political neutrality of the Department of Justice. The tradition of American public administration has for decades been based on a strict separation of party symbolism from buildings of institutions that uphold the rule of law. The Department of Justice, established in 1870, was seen as a bastion of impartiality, especially after reforms introduced following the Watergate scandal in the 1970s. Administration representatives refute the accusations, claiming that the banner promotes the government's official policy on security and combating illegal migration. However, for many lawyers and ethicists, the presence of the president's image on the prosecutor's building constitutes a blatant violation of political neutrality and may be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate agency employees. „Beyond parody. How many dictatorship-style moments do we have to see in America?” (This goes beyond parody. How many dictatorship-style moments do we have to see in America?) — Gavin Newsom

Mentioned People

  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, whose image was placed on federal buildings.
  • Gavin Newsom — Governor of California and a vocal critic of the Trump administration's actions.