Controversy Over Banner Featuring Donald Trump's Image on the Department of Justice Facade

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, a monumental blue banner was unfurled on the facade of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. on Pennsylvania Avenue. It features the face of Donald Trump and the inscription "Make America Safe Again." This is another instance of placing the president's image on federal buildings, which is causing significant emotions in the American capital. Critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and the former director of the FBI, describe this move as a manifestation of undermining the independence of law enforcement agencies. A department spokesperson, cited by the media, argues that the installation is informational and promotes the government's security policy. Nevertheless, observers point out that the Department of Justice traditionally should maintain distance from the current politics of the ruling party to ensure impartiality in its proceedings. In the past, the same institution conducted numerous investigations against Donald Trump, which gives the current situation a particular symbolic dimension. For the Democratic opposition, this is evidence of the progressive politicization of the state's power structures. The American bureaucratic tradition has for decades emphasized the separation of law enforcement agencies from the president's personal political interests, which was the foundation of public trust in the justice system.In the public sphere, comparisons are being made to countries such as North Korea, where the cult of personality is manifested through large-scale portraits of leaders on public utility buildings. The banner has become an immediate flashpoint on social media, generating thousands of comments about the boundaries of propaganda in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. Despite protests, similar banners have previously appeared on other federal buildings as part of the White House's new image strategy.