A prominent banner showcasing the image of Donald Trump was displayed on the outside of the U.S. Justice Department headquarters on Thursday, highlighting the Republican president’s influence on the law enforcement agency that previously investigated him. While banners supporting Trump have been seen outside other government buildings in Washington, the placement at the iconic Justice Department building symbolized a significant departure from the department’s historical autonomy from White House influence.
The banner, positioned between two columns on a corner of the building, features the slogan “Make America Safe Again,” a phrase used by the administration to emphasize its initiatives against illegal immigration and violent crime. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has positioned herself as a vocal advocate for the president, deviating from the practices of past officials who maintained a distance from the White House to uphold the integrity of investigations and legal proceedings.
In response to allegations of politicizing the Justice Department, Trump officials have refuted claims and instead accused the Biden administration of using law enforcement for political gains, citing dropped federal criminal cases against Trump post his 2024 election victory. The Justice Department released a statement expressing pride in “celebrating 250 years of our great country and our historic efforts to ‘make America safe again’ under President Trump’s leadership.”
The Trump administration’s targeting of perceived adversaries through investigations has raised concerns about the agency’s potential utilization for settling political scores. Federal prosecutors pursued charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI director James Comey, which were later dismissed. Additionally, they sought to indict several Democratic lawmakers over a video encouraging military personnel to resist “illegal orders.”
Following these developments, Comey criticized the banner display as “disturbing” and pointed out that the inscription on the building stating, “Where law ends tyranny begins,” was left uncovered by the administration. The Justice Department is also conducting investigations into U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell regarding congressional testimony and examining Democratic Minnesota officials for potential obstruction of federal immigration enforcement through public statements.