Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(69,100 posts)
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 04:47 PM Feb 19

Giant banner of Donald Trump hung at Justice Department headquarters

Last edited Thu Feb 19, 2026, 06:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

Politics
2 min read

Giant banner of Donald Trump hung at Justice Department headquarters

By Hannah Rabinowitz
1 hr 50 min ago
PUBLISHED Feb 19, 2026, 2:56 PM ET


Members of the National Guard walk past a banner of President Donald Trump, hanging on the Department of Justice building in Washington, DC, on Thursday. (Allison Robbert/AP.)

A large banner of Donald Trump was hung outside of the Justice Department headquarters in Washington, DC, on Thursday, emphasizing the White House's control over the nation's top law enforcement branch that once pursued criminal prosecutions against the president.

The image of Trump in shades of blue is a remarkable addition to the storied Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, which is occupied by a department that traditionally has made painstaking efforts to separate itself from politics.

Since Trump retook office last year, the Justice Department has faced repeated accusations of targeting the president's perceived enemies on his behalf. Those prosecutions include that of former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General and Letitia James, as well as investigations into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and several Democratic representatives who recorded a video urging service members to disobey any illegal orders.

Similar banners of Trump's face have been draped across other federal departments including the Department of Labor and the Department of Agriculture, each with their own text: "American workers first" and "growing America," respectively. ... The new sign at the Justice Department reads "make America safe again," the slogan of the Trump administration's violent crime crackdown.

{snip}

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/19/politics/trump-banner-justice-department-building



Hat tip, Joe.My.God.

https://www.joemygod.com/2026/02/massive-glorious-leader-banner-hung-on-doj-hq/

You immediately noticed, of course, that the Trump banner is positioned above the American flag. Details.

--------

Reposted by Kevin M. Kruse
https://bsky.app/profile/kevinmkruse.bsky.social

‪Vince Mpls
‪@vincempls.bsky.social‬

March 27, 1936: Portraits of the Führer are raised on official buildings across Berlin. This one at the Potsdamer Railway Station reads "Freedom - Peace"

Vince Mpls (@vincempls.bsky.social) 2026-02-19T19:21:57.411Z


Biden would’ve been instantly impeached in a bipartisan vote if he put his face on the freakin’ Department of Justice building

Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-02-19T18:28:22.023Z


********
March 27, 1936: Portraits of the Fhrer are raised on official buildings across Berlin. This one at the Potsdamer Railway Station reads "Freedom - Peace"

black and white photo taken at night of the grand facade of the railway station with a huge picture of hitler covering the central portion. construction equipment can be seen. A few people are milling about.
ALT

‪Aaron Rupar‬
‪@atrupar.com‬
· 4h
Biden would've been instantly impeached in a bipartisan vote if he put his face on the freakin' Department of Justice building

Picture via a CNN reporter of a banner with Trump's face going up on outside of DOJ building
ALT
2:21 PM · Feb 19, 2026
********
55 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Giant banner of Donald Trump hung at Justice Department headquarters (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Feb 19 OP
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss twodogsbarking Feb 19 #1
I knew he is the ... reincarnation... Justice matters. Feb 20 #44
Now he's the 'hunter' ---- back shooter. Norrrm Feb 19 #2
Mango Mussolini Kid Berwyn Feb 19 #3
Needs a flaming arrow in his nose! N/T tonekat Feb 19 #4
First thing... 2naSalit Feb 19 #7
Only unhinged autocrats hang banners of themselves on public buildings. sop Feb 19 #5
Lipstick on a pig and vice versa /nt bucolic_frolic Feb 19 #6
looks like... GiqueCee Feb 19 #8
;-{)..... Goonch Feb 19 #9
Vomit inducing. SamKnause Feb 19 #10
and is that his famous mug shot? Kali Feb 19 #11
Indeed, it is. Wednesdays Feb 19 #12
Fuck this piece of shit! I do not want to live in North Korea! Initech Feb 19 #13
Shithole country indeed. mtngirl47 Feb 19 #21
Yup. Initech Feb 19 #35
North Korea? Norrrm Feb 19 #33
North Korea 2 Norrrm Feb 19 #34
How "Hitler" of him FakeNoose Feb 19 #14
Someone needs to project BaronChocula Feb 19 #15
That's certainly yack worthy Bayard Feb 19 #16
Here's hoping the banner is ripped or burned down sakabatou Feb 19 #17
This is sickening to the highest degree! oasis Feb 19 #18
Sick fuck. SunSeeker Feb 19 #19
Dictators on buildings. LetMyPeopleVote Feb 19 #20
Some day those first three words will be gone Orrex Feb 19 #22
It usually ends this way... Dem4life1970 Feb 19 #23
Look, not trying to be funny angrychair Feb 19 #24
My goodness! You're Right! tonekat Feb 19 #30
OTOH - let him be the face of that chaotic, unpopular mess of Justice Dept. Marie Marie Feb 19 #25
Fitting orangecrush Feb 19 #26
Do the eyes appear to follow you? DBoon Feb 19 #27
Look at me Daddy! chouchou Feb 19 #28
It's Stunning Just How Much of Trump's Life Comes Down to Trying in Vain To Please His Father DrFunkenstein Feb 22 #53
Your words are quite true. chouchou Feb 22 #55
It's obvious MW67 Feb 19 #29
Utterly disgusting. mdbl Feb 19 #31
Too bad it's out of spit/piss range. Talitha Feb 19 #32
Wow! That's got to be... regnaD kciN Feb 19 #36
I was hoping to challenge your grammar, but I see it's correct ... eppur_se_muova Feb 19 #37
Someday this will be taught in schools as the attempted fascist takeover of the United States. Martin68 Feb 19 #38
At least back then they didn't posterize a contemporaneous fascist. Marcuse Feb 19 #39
or sadaam hussein. pansypoo53219 Feb 19 #40
Flaming arrows pfitz59 Feb 19 #41
History is "rhyming". LudwigPastorius Feb 19 #42
It's getting so any place you are in DC he's staring at you. Figarosmom Feb 20 #43
This reminds me of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi. Lionel Mandrake Feb 20 #45
Someone needs to hang a WANTED sign under it. N/T S/V Loner Feb 20 #46
This Is A Great Sign MissouriDem47 Feb 20 #47
Donald Trump hung at Justice Department headquarters twodogsbarking Feb 20 #48
Will be one on the Supreme Court by end of the weekend. travelingthrulife Feb 20 #49
"Hanging that banner should put to rest any doubt that Donald Trump has hijacked the independence of the Justice Dept." mahatmakanejeeves Feb 21 #50
MaddowBlog-The inadvertent truth exposed by the Justice Department's new Trump banner LetMyPeopleVote Feb 21 #51
This is disgusting Blue_Roses Feb 21 #52
If Ever There Was a Need For a Light Projection Activist DrFunkenstein Feb 22 #54

Justice matters.

(9,651 posts)
44. I knew he is the ... reincarnation...
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 02:03 AM
Feb 20

1945 to inbreed day six months later to June 14, 1946, the day $atan came out to breath again...

GiqueCee

(3,839 posts)
8. looks like...
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 05:12 PM
Feb 19

... an enlargement of his mugshot. The whole concept of giant ego-banners is straight out of chapter one of Dictatoring For Idiots.
I can't wait to read his obituary. Then we can go after the rest of 'em.

Initech

(108,396 posts)
35. Yup.
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 09:09 PM
Feb 19

Trump and Fox have done more to destroy the United States than Osama Bin Laden could ever dream of.

Norrrm

(4,672 posts)
34. North Korea 2
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 09:03 PM
Feb 19

Golden Groveler

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xTmRY5L7wT0
------------------------------------------------------

https://crooksandliars.com/2017/06/donald-trump-hosts-propaganda-cabinet

Towards the end, Reince Priebus became one of the major suck-ups in the room saying, "On behalf of the entire senior staff around you, Mr. President, we thank you for the opportunity and blessing you've given us to serve your agenda and the american people and we're continuing to work very hard every day to accomplish those goals."

FakeNoose

(41,133 posts)
14. How "Hitler" of him
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 05:42 PM
Feb 19

Der Führer was always doing stuff like that - defacing nice buildings with huge ugly banners.

Bayard

(29,275 posts)
16. That's certainly yack worthy
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 06:08 PM
Feb 19


He just LOVES looking at himself, and pissing on everything else with his name. Massive and destructive ego.

Orrex

(66,928 posts)
22. Some day those first three words will be gone
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 07:38 PM
Feb 19

Holy fuck, why doesn't he just fucking die already?

angrychair

(12,087 posts)
24. Look, not trying to be funny
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 07:49 PM
Feb 19

But when you zoom up on that picture the shading makes it look like he has certain style of mustache if you know what I mean.

tonekat

(2,505 posts)
30. My goodness! You're Right!
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 08:53 PM
Feb 19

A skilled drone pilot with an airbrush mounted on it could tease that out enough for greater public recognition.

Marie Marie

(11,156 posts)
25. OTOH - let him be the face of that chaotic, unpopular mess of Justice Dept.
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 08:09 PM
Feb 19

When everyone thinks of how the DOJ is not doing its job for the Epstein survivors, his face is a reminder of who is in those files and who is most responsible for the lack of transparency and justice. Somehow, this is the one building I don't mind having his ugly face plastered all over it. He owns this fiasco.

And every time he hangs one of those gigantic mug shots, he just looks smaller and smaller.

DBoon

(24,875 posts)
27. Do the eyes appear to follow you?
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 08:12 PM
Feb 19

On each landing, opposite the lift-shaft, the poster with the enormous face gazed from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran.

— George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Part I, Chapter I

chouchou

(3,052 posts)
28. Look at me Daddy!
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 08:23 PM
Feb 19

Look at me Daddy! Look at me Daddy! Look at me Daddy! Look at me Daddy! Look at me Daddy! Look at me Daddy!

DrFunkenstein

(8,905 posts)
53. It's Stunning Just How Much of Trump's Life Comes Down to Trying in Vain To Please His Father
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 07:04 AM
Feb 22

Forever feeling inferior, trying to prove himself to a corrupt, racist tycoon father. What a recipe for disaster.

But the real damnation, of course, is America's willingness to drink deeply from this toxic cocktail.

chouchou

(3,052 posts)
55. Your words are quite true.
Sun Feb 22, 2026, 09:44 AM
Feb 22

Personally, sometimes I feel like the Left-wing are driving in a car, trying to go on a nice trip.
The right-wing are the kids screaming and bouncing around in the back seat!

SHUT THE @#%$@#!

Talitha

(7,880 posts)
32. Too bad it's out of spit/piss range.
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 09:00 PM
Feb 19

Would a paintball gun shoot that high?

(Ewww, can you imagine working across the street from it?)

eppur_se_muova

(41,605 posts)
37. I was hoping to challenge your grammar, but I see it's correct ...
Thu Feb 19, 2026, 09:46 PM
Feb 19

it really is "hung", not "hanged" in this case.

Figarosmom

(11,310 posts)
43. It's getting so any place you are in DC he's staring at you.
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 12:19 AM
Feb 20

How creepy is that?

It's like an animal marking what's his.

Lionel Mandrake

(4,205 posts)
45. This reminds me of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi.
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 02:09 AM
Feb 20

I was on a tour bus in Libya. Almost every large building in most towns had a giant picture of Gaddafi. It was creepier than you could imagine unless you had been there.

mahatmakanejeeves

(69,100 posts)
50. "Hanging that banner should put to rest any doubt that Donald Trump has hijacked the independence of the Justice Dept."
Sat Feb 21, 2026, 03:11 AM
Feb 21

Reposted by These Fucking Hats
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social

Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray”
‪@ryanjreilly.com‬

“Hanging that banner should put to rest any doubt that Donald Trump has hijacked the independence of the Justice Department. He — not the American people — is the only client DOJ’s current leadership serves."
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/banner-president-donald-trump-displayed-doj-headquarters-washington-rcna259795

Large banner of Trump unfurled at Justice Department headquarters
The DOJ has traditionally operated with a degree of separation from the White House to prevent the department's powers from being abused for political purposes.
www.nbcnews.com
6:17 PM · Feb 19, 2026

“Hanging that banner should put to rest any doubt that Donald Trump has hijacked the independence of the Justice Department. He — not the American people — is the only client DOJ’s current leadership serves." www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...

Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” (@ryanjreilly.com) 2026-02-19T23:17:46.920Z

LetMyPeopleVote

(178,204 posts)
51. MaddowBlog-The inadvertent truth exposed by the Justice Department's new Trump banner
Sat Feb 21, 2026, 02:16 PM
Feb 21

The display doesn’t show a commanding figure; it shows a flailing politician pretending to convey strength.

We’re apparently supposed to see Trump's fascistic DOJ banner and hear the implicit questions: “Don’t I appear imposing? Isn’t it clear how powerful I am?”

The answer, however, is “no.”

The banner doesn’t signal strength — it reflects desperation.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-02-20T20:40:06.281Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/the-inadvertent-truth-exposed-by-the-justice-departments-creepy-new-trump-banner

With this in mind, MS NOW reported Thursday on the latest addition to the façade at Main Justice:

A large banner with Donald Trump’s face was hung on the front of the Justice Department headquarters in Washington, D.C., the president’s latest effort to imprint his personal brand on the nation’s capital.

Observers spotted the lengthy blue banner featuring Trump’s face sandwiched between two pillars on the building’s exterior on Thursday. The banner, which also includes the DOJ seal, states, ‘Make America Safe Again,’ and adorns the front entrance of a department that Democrats say has been weaponized by Trump
.


In a written statement, Trump’s DOJ acknowledged the developments, saying: “We are proud at this Department of Justice to celebrate 250 years of our great country and our historic work to make America safe again at President Trump’s direction.”

Photo:

Ryan J. Reilly “paints a vivid and urgent portrait of… disarray” (@ryanjreilly.com) 2026-02-19T20:37:47.353Z


.....Indeed, the banner was helpful in removing a pretense that no one took seriously anyway. The DOJ’s official statement was explicit and unambiguous: The department works at “Trump’s direction” — as opposed to the direction of the attorney general, who’s supposed to lead federal law enforcement.

But I’m also reminded of a column written by the Times’ Jamelle Bouie in August:

The administration-produced imagery in Washington is, then, a projection of sorts — a representation of what the president wants reality to be, drawn from its idea of what authoritarianism looks like. The banners and the troops — not to mention the strangely sycophantic cabinet meetings and news conferences — are a secondhand reproduction of the strongman aesthetic of other strongman states. It is as if the administration is building a simulacrum of authoritarianism, albeit one meant to bring the real thing into being. No, the United States is not a totalitarian state led by a sovereign Donald Trump — a continental Trump Organization backed by the world’s largest nuclear arsenal — but his favored imagery reflects his desire to live in this fantasy.


Six months later, Bouie’s observation still resonates. The DOJ banner doesn’t signal Trump’s strength — it reflects his desperation.

A failing president wants to convey authority, so he and his team scramble to impose symbols like these on the public. They appear intended to convey questions Trump seems reluctant to ask out loud: “Don’t I appear imposing? Isn’t it clear how powerful I am? Shouldn’t my opponents feel an overwhelming sense of fear?”

The answer to the questions, however, is “no.” In fact, members of Team Trump have it backward: By trying too hard, their posturing delivers the opposite of the intended message.

The Justice Department’s banner, in other words, doesn’t show a commanding figure; it shows a flailing politician pretending to convey confidence and strength.
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Giant banner of Donald Tr...