A monumental banner depicting President Donald Trump has been placed on the facade of the main headquarters of the Department of Justice in Washington. The blue sheet bearing the slogan 'Make America Safe Again' has sparked a wave of criticism from the opposition and legal experts. Opponents of the president warn that this violates the department's traditional neutrality and resembles practices used by leaders with authoritarian tendencies, igniting a heated debate about the politicization of law enforcement agencies.

Symbolic Dominance in Washington

Placing the president's portrait on the ministry building is interpreted as a manifestation of power over previously independent institutions.

National Security Slogan

The inscription 'Make America Safe Again' refers to immigration policy and the fight against crime, forming the core of Trump's agenda.

Allegations of Authoritarianism

Critics and former FBI officials compare the administration's actions to practices used by leaders of non-democratic regimes.

Breach of Impartiality Tradition

The Department of Justice traditionally avoided political symbols to emphasize its independence from the current executive power.

On Thursday, a huge banner featuring Donald Trump's image was unveiled on the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice building in Washington. The banner, placed between two columns at the corner of the building on Pennsylvania Avenue, bears the inscription 'Make America Safe Again'. The department stated in an official release that the installation is intended to promote national security policy and the fight against illegal immigration. Similar visual materials have recently appeared on other federal buildings in the U.S. capital, which, according to the administration, is meant to emphasize government unity in implementing the presidential agenda. For decades, the United States Department of Justice has built its identity on being apolitical and independent from the White House, which became a cornerstone of the American rule of law after the Watergate scandal in the 1970s.Experts and Democratic Party politicians sharply criticized this move, claiming it constitutes an unprecedented breach of democratic norms. A former director of FBI pointed out that the institution, which should impartially safeguard justice, is becoming a tool of political propaganda. Comparisons to the cult of personality, characteristic of autocratic regimes, are appearing on social media and in the press. Meanwhile, the president's supporters argue that the head of state has every right to endorse the actions of subordinate units of the government administration with his priorities. „The building is a symbol of law and order, and the banner reflects our commitment to the American people.” — Department of Justice SpokespersonAnalysis of the banner's location indicates a carefully chosen visual context. The building is located in the heart of the so-called Federal Triangle, in close proximity to other key federal offices. Critics point out that the presence of the president's image on the building of the attorney general's office could exert psychological pressure on agency employees and undermine citizens' trust in the objectivity of proceedings conducted by federal prosecutors. This situation fits into a broader trend of personalization of power in Washington following Trump's return to the White House. 1 — first time in history a president's portrait has been hung on the department's building

Mentioned People

  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, whose image was placed on the federal building.