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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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A new banner featuring President Donald Trump's portrait and the slogan "Make America Safe Again" appeared on the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
In a similar style to those hung on the front of the Department of Labor near the National Mall last year, the blue banner could be seen hanging above Pennsylvania Avenue.
“Donald Trump shouted ‘weaponization’ and ‘witch hunt’ into the void for years… just to do it himself," Democratic Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, ranking member for the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Newsweek in a statement. "This is a visual of what we already know: Stephen Miller, Pam Bondi, and Kash Patel are orchestrating a weaponized, corrupt Justice Department to protect Donald Trump—and not you.”
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Newsweek reached out to the DOJ via its contact form and the House Judiciary Committee Democrats via voicemail for comment Thursday afternoon.
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Why It Matters
Trump long complained that the DOJ had been weaponized against him and his first administration by former President Joe Biden, and that he would bring back a fairer system. Democrats have argued that the president has, in fact, tried to influence the DOJ to do his will. The justice system is supposed to be impartial by design, and the DOJ states on its website that it aims to be independent and free from political influence.
Historically, it has been authoritarian leaders, such as Josef Stalin in the Soviet Union and Mao Zedong in China, who have used government buildings to project control and reinforce their image, and critics suggest Trump's display echoes this tradition.
What To Know
Contractors could be seen hanging the banner on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th St. as tourists and workers passed by. Its appearance sparked some concerns on social media over whether the DOJ could still be considered independent.
In August, similar banners depicting Trump and former President Theodore Roosevelt also prompted criticism as the Department of Labor (DOL) promoted its efforts to put "American Workers First," echoing the message that immigrants had taken jobs from U.S.-born workers.
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While the federal government overall is traditionally seen as needing to be impartial in its stance and messaging, the DOJ banner will likely spark more criticism than the DOL's, largely because of the president's multiple public comments on the Justice Department under Biden.
Having claimed that Biden wielded the judiciary's power to prosecute him and that this was unfair, the department's decision to put Trump's face on the building will likely raise eyebrows among his critics.
Posts on social media reacting to the photos included the opinion that Biden would have been impeached had he made a similar move, while others said it was ironic that Trump, who was convicted of 34 felonies in New York, was the one to have his face on the DOJ's building.
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What People Are Saying
California Democratic Representative Dave Min, on X: "The DOJ is the most powerful and important law enforcement agency in the country, not a Trump hotel. This is outrageous and inconsistent with democracy and the rule of law. We don’t do Kings in America. But while we’re on the topic of the DOJ and Trump, why did the DOJ remove the witness interview memos claiming that Trump raped children?"
David Axelrod, former strategist for President Barack Obama, on X: "Ironic that the banner of Trump hung from the Department Justice looks so much like one of his booking photos."
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, on X: "Beyond parody. How many dictatorship-style monuments, building name changes, and fake awards do Americans have to endure?"
The Unite the Country PAC, on X: "Historically, leaders who plaster their portraits on government buildings have rarely been the good guys. The fact that this is happening on the Department of Justice makes it even more alarming."
Republicans Against Trump, on X: "They just put up a giant Trump banner on the Department of Justice building. No more pretending. The DOJ is working for Trump, prosecuting his enemies and covering for his corruption, not upholding the law or serving the American people. Impeach!"
Ken Dilanian, a reporter with MS Now, on X: "This is a stunning confirmation of the grim reality, which is that Donald Trump has seized control of the once independent Justice Department and is using it to pursue his political objectives—including trying to punish his perceived enemies. Exactly what his supporters baselessly accused the previous administration of doing."
Update 2/19/26, 3:55 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 2/19/26, 4:48 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 2/19/26, 5:52 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Senator Dick Durbin.
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