Large banner of Trump unfurled at Justice Department headquarters
A banner featuring a photo of Donald Trump and the words “Make America Safe Again” was hung Thursday at Justice Department headquarters in Washington, one of the most public signs of the president’s influence over a department that once brought criminal charges against him.
The Justice Department traditionally operates with a certain degree of independence from the White House. That separation, however, eroded during Trump’s second term, as the Justice Department went after his perceived political enemies.
“We are proud at the Department of Justice to celebrate 250 years of our great country and our historic work to make America safe again under the leadership of President Trump,” a DOJ spokesperson said when asked about the banner.
Trump has proposed a number of projects and events ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary, such as an IndyCar race on the streets of Washington. But the Justice Department banner does not mention the 250th anniversary and does not feature the logo associated with the celebration.
The White House referred questions about the banner to the DOJ.
The Justice Department, now adorned with a portrait of Trump, once investigated the president. In 2022, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith as special counsel to investigate Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The cases were dropped in 2024 after Trump won the election, with Smith citing a long-standing DOJ policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in these matters.
Since returning to office, the Justice Department has filed charges against some of Trump’s alleged opponents, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, after Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to file charges.
He also tried, unsuccessfully, to charge six Democratic lawmakers who urged the military not to comply with illegal orders and launched investigations into others, such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate.
Stacey Young, a Justice Department veteran under Republican and Democratic administrations who left the department last year and founded the group Justice Connection, said in a statement that the placement of the banner at the DOJ was “shameful.”
“Hanging this banner should dispel any doubt that Donald Trump has hijacked the independence of the Justice Department. He – not the American people – is the only customer the current Justice Department leadership serves,” Young said.
The banner is the latest step in Trump’s efforts to put its mark on Washington and use its benchmarks to exert its influence. Trump’s hand-picked board voted last year to rename the Kennedy Center to include his name in a decision that sparked a lawsuit. Trump’s name was also added to the facade of the Institute of Peace headquarters, an agency that the administration quickly dismantled after Trump took office.
At the White House, Trump added a “Room of Presidents” to the west colonnade with plaques mocking former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
