Giant Trump banner hangs outside Justice Department headquarters

WASHINGTON, DC: A large banner featuring President Donald Trump’s face was placed on the exterior of the Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters in Washington, DC, this week, drawing attention and sparking discussion about its symbolism and what it might signal about the relationship between the White House and the traditionally independent law enforcement agency.

The banner, which includes Trump’s image and the slogan “Make America Safe Again,” was installed on the Robert F Kennedy Department of Justice Building on Thursday, Feb 19.

New sign draws attention

The new sign at the Justice Department reads “make America safe again,” the slogan of the Trump administration’s violent crime crackdown.

Similar banners featuring Trump’s face have been draped across other federal departments, including the Department of Labur and the Department of Agriculture, each with its own text: “American workers first” and “growing America,” respectively.

The image of Trump in shades of blue is a remarkable addition to the storied Robert F Kennedy Department of Justice Building, which is occupied by a department that traditionally has made painstaking efforts to separate itself from politics.

The hanging of this banner emphasizes the White House’s control over the nation’s top law enforcement branch that once pursued criminal prosecutions against the president.

Justice department keeps claiming they’re not political

The Trump Justice Department has repeatedly stated that its investigations under Trump are not political, and said that the department is course-correcting from alleged “weaponization” under the previous administration.

Chief among their examples are the two federal criminal cases brought against Trump by former special counsel Jack Smith for retaining classified documents in his home at Mar-a-Lago and for his alleged role in instigating the 2021 Capitol riot.

The classified documents case was dismissed by a judge, and the election interference case was dropped when he won election in November 2020.

“We are proud at this Department of Justice to celebrate 250 years of our great country and our historic work to make America safe again at President Trump’s direction,” a Justice Department spokesperson said.

Supporters of the move have described the banners as expressions of pride in the administration’s policy priorities.

In the case of the Justice Department display, officials cited a desire to publicly highlight the department’s work on crime and border security efforts, tying the messaging to Trump’s leadership.

Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups, have raised concerns about the symbolism of such displays, arguing that featuring a sitting president’s portrait on a building meant to be independent could blur lines between political leadership and law enforcement autonomy.