Authoritarian Chic: DOJ Debuts Massive Trump Banner

Above the Law

by Kathryn Rubino

February 20, 2026

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has installed a massive banner featuring former President Donald Trump with the slogan "MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN" at its headquarters, marking a significant shift toward overt political influence within the nation's top law enforcement agency. This move has sparked widespread criticism, as it signals an alarming confluence of politics and legal authority, reminiscent of authoritarian aesthetics. The banner, which replaces the DOJ’s traditional focus on impartial justice, underscores a troubling trend where the agency appears to operate as a tool for advancing Trump’s personal agenda rather than upholding the rule of law. Under Attorney General Pam Bondi during Trump’s second term, the DOJ pursued high-profile cases against political and personal adversaries like former FBI Director James Comey and former New York Attorney General Letitia James, often redefining "prosecutorial discretion

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Originally published on Above the Law on 2/20/2026