Why Did a Banner With Trump’s Face Hang on the U.S. Department of Justice Building?

Banner Promoting Immigration Crackdown Hung Up
Concerns Raised Over Damage to Judicial Independence

On the 19th (local time), a large banner bearing the face of President Donald Trump was hung on the U.S. Department of Justice building. The Associated Press reported that concerns were being raised about damage to judicial independence.

On the 20th, Yonhap News, citing foreign media including the Associated Press, reported that the banner, which was hung between two pillars on the exterior wall of the Department of Justice building, carried the phrase "Making America Safe Again" beneath President Trump’s photo. This phrase is a slogan the Trump administration uses when touting its crackdown on illegal immigration and violent crime as an achievement.

A banner of President Trump hanging on the U.S. Department of Justice building. Reuters, Yonhap News

In connection with this, the Department of Justice said in a statement, "We are proud to commemorate our historic work to make America safe again at the direction of President Trump." The Associated Press interpreted the scene as a "striking" image that symbolically shows that the Department of Justice’s traditional value of maintaining independence from the White House has been undermined.

Previously, under the "second Trump term," the Department of Justice attempted to prosecute former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. All of them had clashed with President Trump.

Earlier, on the 12th (local time), Secretary Bondi engaged in a fierce war of words with lawmakers over the disclosure of files related to Epstein during a hearing that had lasted more than five hours the previous day. Rather than answering lawmakers’ questions, she focused on defending President Trump, and in the process heated arguments and personal attacks were exchanged. Secretary Bondi previously served as President Trump’s attorney.

The Associated Press reported that "concerns continue to be raised that the Trump administration is 'weaponizing' the Department of Justice for political purposes."

Meanwhile, former Director Comey took aim at the Department of Justice banner on social media the same day, calling it "disgusting to look at" and sneering, "I guess they forgot that hanging the banner covers up the inscription on the Department of Justice building."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.