This Thursday, a large banner featuring President Trump’s image was unveiled at the Department of Justice (DOJ). It has been stirring up debate because of the slogan on it, “Make America Safe Again.” According to The Hill, historically, White House leaders have made a point of maintaining a clear distance from the DOJ. This separation is crucial for demonstrating that the department operates without political influence, and is thus unbiased.
This banner, while perhaps not the first time a president’s image has adorned a federal building, definitely feels like a significant departure from that long-standing tradition at the DOJ. We saw similar banners featuring Trump outside the Department of Labor last year, but the DOJ has always been held to a different standard of neutrality.
