DOJ Installs Donald Trump Portrait Banner at Washington Headquarters

The United States Department of Justice installed a large blue banner featuring a portrait of President Donald Trump and the slogan "Make America Safe Again" on the Pennsylvania Avenue facade of its Washington, D.C. headquarters on Thursday, February 19, 2026. The department defended the display as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States and its work under the president's direction.

This installation follows a broader pattern of administration branding, with similar banners previously placed at the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, and the U.S. Institute for Peace. Some banners reportedly cost approximately $6,000 each. The president's name was also added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Democratic officials and former officials condemned the move as a sign of the erosion of the justice department's independence. Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jimmy Gomez characterized the action as a shift toward a "rule of Trump," while former FBI Director James Comey called the display "sickening to see." Governor Gavin Newsom and journalist Jim Acosta compared the imagery to authoritarian regimes, with Newsom posting images of North Korean leaders in response.

Critics argue the visual shift coincides with the administration's use of the department to target political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, while dropping charges against the president.