Democracy Dies in Darkness

Trump banner on Justice Dept. building draws authoritarian comparisons

Democrats criticized the appearance of the president on the headquarters of a department that has long prided itself on being independent from the White House.

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The banner hangs along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)
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A new banner hanging along the facade of the Justice Department’s headquarters in Washington is sparking criticism from Democrats and a former FBI director, who suggest that it exemplifies President Donald Trump’s encroachment on the agency, which has long prided itself on being independent from the White House.

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What readers are saying

The comments overwhelmingly criticize the presence of a banner featuring President Trump's portrait at the Justice Department, drawing comparisons to authoritarian regimes like those of Stalin, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein. Many commenters express concern that this display... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
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Maegan Vazquez is a politics breaking news reporter. She joined The Washington Post in 2023.@maeganvaz
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Jeremy Roebuck covers the Justice Department and FBI for The Washington Post. Send him secure tips on Signal at jeremyroebuck.04@jeremyrroebuck
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