--- title: Democrats Blast Giant Trump Banner at DOJ: 'Beyond Parody' description: “How many dictatorship-style monuments do Americans have to endure?” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. canonical: https://time.com/7379999/democrats-criticize-giant-trump-banner-justice-department/ author: Tiago Ventura article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-02-20T16:41:01.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:49:56.628Z article:section: Politics og:title: Democrats Criticize Giant Trump Banner Hung at DOJ og:description: “How many dictatorship-style monuments do Americans have to endure?” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. og:url: https://time.com/7379999/democrats-criticize-giant-trump-banner-justice-department/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaca6ccc140b11e13/69b04862e1b133c0533a2803/GettyImages-2261981445.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: New Banner Featuring President Trump Installed At DOJ og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Democrats Criticize Giant Trump Banner Hung at DOJ twitter:description: “How many dictatorship-style monuments do Americans have to endure?” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaca6ccc140b11e13/69b04862e1b133c0533a2803/GettyImages-2261981445.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'Beyond Parody': Democrats Criticize Giant Trump Banner Hung at Justice Department Headquarters ## Video: Pam Bondi declines to directly apologize to Epstein victims during Capitol Hill testimony [Watch (HLS stream): Pam Bondi declines to directly apologize to Epstein victims during Capitol Hill testimony](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dm9W9Nhn.m3u8) (2:59)  _Published 2026-02-11. Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed the victims of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse during a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, saying that she was "deeply sorry" for what they had suffered. She did not explicitly apologize for that failure._  by [Tiago Ventura](https://time.com/author/tiago-ventura/)  ## Tiago Ventura Feb 20, 2026 4:41 PM UTC  An image of President Donald Trump on a newly-installed banner outside of the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19, 2026. An image of President Donald Trump on a newly-installed banner outside of the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19, 2026.Al Drago—Getty Images  by [Tiago Ventura](https://time.com/author/tiago-ventura/)  ## Tiago Ventura Feb 20, 2026 4:41 PM UTC The unveiling of a giant banner bearing the face of [President Donald Trump](https://time.com/tag/donald-trump/) at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C. is generating stern criticism from Democrats. Complete with the “Make America Safe Again” slogan that the Trump Administration has used to promote its immigration crackdown, the banner appears to cover several floors. Referring to the display as “beyond parody,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who often [clashes](https://time.com/7353366/newsom-trump-advice-to-world-leaders/) with Trump, [argued](https://www.facebook.com/100044216237096/posts/pfbid02hMDdZCK4fmoUNworDxiMhmNCn6gR7qTH3JMSbkbrK8X7L8Zu9pbsJnCVxiWsAUcol/): “How many dictatorship-style monuments, building name changes, and fake awards do Americans have to endure?” Other lawmakers also questioned if the imagery blurs the line between political messaging and the independence of federal law enforcement. “The Department of Justice is supposed to work for and represent you, not him,” [said](https://x.com/SenatorAndyKim/status/2024579033371902278) Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey. Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California [said](https://x.com/RepJimmyGomez/status/2024572794831307042): “Trump is plastering his face on the building that’s supposed to investigate him. There was once a time when a President couldn’t boss the Attorney General around like his own personal lapdog.” When testifying before the House Judiciary Committee over the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files on Feb.11, AG Pam Bondi was questioned by several lawmakers, who argued she has shown fealty towards Trump. “Trump orders up prosecutions like pizza, and you deliver every time,” [said](https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-raskin-s-opening-statement-at-hearing-slamming-attorney-general-bondi-s-epstein-cover-up-betrayal-of-the-principle-of-justice-for-all) Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Committee. Bondi defended herself during the hearing, saying she “came into office with a goal of refocusing the Department of Justice on its core mission” after, what she claimed was, “years of bloated bureaucracy and political weaponization.” But the placement of the banner at the DOJ has only prompted further concerns. Aside from Democratic lawmakers, others in Washington have also responded to the new decoration. Laura Coates, who worked as a federal prosecutor under prior Administrations, said she doesn’t recall walking under a picture of former Presidents George Bush or Barack Obama outside the building, or a political slogan. “You’re not supposed to engage in political activities as a member of the Department of Justice,” she [said](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/02/20/politics/video/not-normal-laura-coates-reacts-to-the-trump-banner-hung-at-her-old-workplace-main-justice), claiming it’s now “Trump’s DOJ.” “That firewall of independence between the White House and main justice seems to be crumbling before our very eyes,” added Coates, who serves as a legal analyst on CNN.  Workers check installation of a new banner featuring Trump on the facade of the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building in Washington, DC, on Feb. 19, 2026. Brendan Smialowski—Getty Images The Justice Department is structured to operate with a degree of independence from the White House, though Trump has previously [urged](https://time.com/7319161/trump-pam-bondi-letitia-james/) Bondi to prosecute his political opponents. In recent months, federal prosecutors have brought charges against New York Attorney General [Letitia James](https://time.com/7324902/new-york-attorney-general-letitia-james-charged-with-fraud-by-trump-ally/) and former[ FBI Director James Comey](https://time.com/7320692/james-comey-indictment-fbi-trump-pam-bondi-false-statement-halligan/). Those cases were later dismissed. The department is also investigating [Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell](https://time.com/7345792/republicans-break-ranks-with-trump-administration-over-powell-investigation/) over congressional testimony and [Democratic officials in Minnesota](https://time.com/7347082/doj-investigation-tim-walz/) over whether they obstructed federal immigration enforcement through public statements. Comey was among those who [reacted](https://www.instagram.com/p/DU85uxsj7kI/?hl=en) to the banner of Trump outside the DOJ, calling it “sickening.” TIME has contacted the Justice Department for comment.  Workers affix signage adding President Donald Trump's name to the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 19, 2025. Al Drago—Getty Images Meanwhile, this is not the first time pictures of Trump have appeared on federal buildings. In May last year, banners [displaying](https://civileats.com/2025/05/15/usda-hangs-massive-banners-of-trump-and-lincoln/) Trump and President Abraham Lincoln were hung at the Department of Agriculture. In August, a banner [featuring](https://www.newsweek.com/department-labor-trump-portrait-2119185) Trump’s second inaugural portrait alongside President Theodore Roosevelt was placed over the Department of Labor building with the slogan “American Workers First.” As referenced by Newsom, Trump has also sought to add himself to the name of iconic buildings in Washington. In a move that prompted [backlash](https://time.com/7342638/kennedy-center-christmas-eve-jazz-show-canceled-trump-name-change/), Trump’s name was added to the Kennedy Center in December. The decision was made by the President’s hand-picked board, which he himself chairs. That same month, Trump's name was added to the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) building, after the Department of State rebranded the organization. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7379999/democrats-criticize-giant-trump-banner-justice-department/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7379999/democrats-criticize-giant-trump-banner-justice-department/"},"headline":"'Beyond Parody': Democrats Criticize Giant Trump Banner Hung at Justice Department Headquarters","datePublished":"2026-02-20T16:41:01.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:49:56.628Z","description":"“How many dictatorship-style monuments do Americans have to endure?” said Gov. 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