Trump’s face is now on the Justice Department headquarters

WASHINGTON (AP) — A large banner with Donald Trump’s face was hung on the outside of Justice Department headquarters Thursday in a physical display of the Republican president’s efforts to exert authority over the law enforcement agency that once investigated him.

While Trump signs have been hung outside other agencies across Washington, the decision to place one on the Justice Department building is a stark symbol of the erosion of the department’s tradition of independence from White House control.

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The sign hanging between two columns in one corner of the building reads, “Make America Safe Again,” a slogan the administration uses to promote its efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and violent crime.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has cast herself as the president’s chief supporter and protector, eschewing the approach of her predecessors who sought to maintain a distance from the White House to protect the integrity of investigations and prosecutions.

A new banner depicting President Donald Trump hangs on the Justice Department building in Washington, seen on February 20, 2026. Photo by Ken Cedeno/Reuters

Trump officials have rejected accusations that they weaponized the Justice Department for political purposes, saying it was the Biden administration that politicized law enforcement through two federal criminal cases against Trump that were abandoned after he won the 2024 election.

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The Justice Department said in a statement on Thursday that it was proud “to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great country and our historic work to make America safe again at the direction of President Trump.”

The Trump administration has opened investigations into a number of the president’s alleged enemies, raising fears that the agency will be used to retaliate against his political rivals.

A new banner depicting President Donald Trump hangs on the Justice Department building in Washington, seen on February 20, 2026. Photo by Ken Cedeno/Reuters

Federal prosecutors brought charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, which were later dismissed, and separately sought to indict several Democratic lawmakers in connection with a video in which they urged US military personnel to resist “unlawful orders.”

In a social media post, Comey said the sign was “disgusting,” adding that the administration “forgot to cover up the inscription” on one side of the building that says: “Where law ends, tyranny begins.”

The department is also investigating Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell over testimony before Congress and Democratic officials in Minnesota over whether they obstructed enforcement of federal immigration laws through public statements.