On February 19, 2026, Washington, D.C. found itself at the center of a striking political tableau. A massive blue banner, emblazoned with President Donald Trump’s face and the bold slogan “Make America Safe Again,” was draped across the columns of the Justice Department headquarters. According to reporting by The New York Times, it’s not the only federal building now displaying such banners—similar tributes to the president have appeared on the Agriculture Department and Labor Department buildings as well, all signs of an administration intent on making its mark—quite literally—on the fabric of government.
The spectacle of presidential banners on government buildings is rare in American history, and it’s raising eyebrows among political historians and government watchdogs. Michael Beschloss, a respected presidential historian, told The Times, “This is not just egotistical self-satisfaction, it’s a way of expanding presidential power. A president is more powerful, I assume he believes, if he is ever-present than if he keeps his head down.” The banners, he suggested, are more reminiscent of autocratic regimes than the restrained traditions of U.S. democracy.
The Justice Department banner, which appeared on Thursday, is the latest in a series of such displays. The Agriculture Department’s headquarters now features a banner reading “Growing America Since 1862,” hanging just a few columns away from an image of Abraham Lincoln. At the Labor Department, a banner proclaims “American Workers First” and is displayed alongside a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt. According to Courtney Parella, spokeswoman for the Labor Department, those two banners cost roughly $6,000 and were originally created for Labor Day. But after receiving what Parella described as “tremendous positive response,” the department decided to keep them up throughout the year, especially for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The banners are just the most visible aspect of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to place the president’s name and image on public items, from commemorative coins to national park passes. Critics argue these moves blur the line between the office of the presidency and personal branding, eroding the careful separation that has traditionally insulated federal agencies—especially the Justice Department—from overt political influence.
The White House, when asked about the Justice Department’s banner, referred all questions to the department itself, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lack of clarity about the decision-making process—and the cost, duration, and intent behind the banners—has only fueled the debate about their appropriateness and meaning.
While the banners were making headlines in Washington, President Trump was also presiding over an event of international consequence. On the same day the Justice Department banner was installed, he hosted the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, a new international organization he described as “the premier world body for international peace and harmony.” The meeting took place at the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace, a decades-old institution recently renamed in his honor. “Marco named it after me,” Trump joked in his opening remarks, referencing Secretary of State Marco Rubio seated nearby. “I had nothing to do with it, I swear I didn’t. I swear. I had no idea.”
During this high-profile gathering, President Trump announced a $10 billion U.S. contribution to help rebuild Gaza, a territory ravaged by years of conflict. The announcement, covered by The Washington Post, positions the United States as a major player in Middle East reconstruction efforts and signals the administration’s intent to use the Board of Peace as a platform for global diplomacy. The scale of the pledge drew both praise and skepticism from international observers, who questioned how the funds would be allocated and what conditions, if any, might be attached.
But the administration’s actions weren’t confined to international affairs. Back home, Trump was also responding to a domestic crisis. On February 20, 2026, he approved Governor Jeff Landry’s request for increased federal funding to help North Louisiana recover from a severe winter storm that struck in late January. The president signed a major disaster declaration, unlocking additional support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for nine parishes: Bienville, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, and West Carroll.
The storm had left 175,000 utility customers without power and 32,500 households without running water at its peak. Interstate 20 and other highways in North Louisiana were closed for days, stranding residents and hampering emergency response. The FEMA funding will cover debris removal, emergency medical support, temporary generators, temporary housing, and urgent infrastructure repairs. According to The Associated Press, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, along with Louisiana’s six U.S. House members, had sent a letter to President Trump urging him to provide more financial support for the recovery. Their efforts paid off when Trump approved the funding on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
This wasn’t the first time the president had responded to the region’s needs. Earlier in February, Trump approved similar disaster declarations for Mississippi and Tennessee, both of which suffered significant damage and power outages from the same winter storm system. However, according to AP, the president has been more reluctant to approve comparable funding for other states affected by natural disasters over the past year, sparking debate about the criteria used for such decisions.
The juxtaposition of these events—massive presidential banners on government buildings, a record-setting international aid pledge, and targeted disaster relief—offers a window into President Trump’s approach to governance in his second term. Supporters see a leader who is unapologetically assertive, willing to take bold action both at home and abroad. Critics warn that the blending of personal branding with official government business, especially in institutions like the Justice Department, threatens to undermine democratic norms and the nonpartisan administration of justice.
Meanwhile, the symbolism is hard to miss. The banners, the renamed institute, and the Board of Peace all suggest an administration intent on leaving its imprint—visually and substantively—on the nation’s institutions and its role in the world. Whether these moves will be remembered as a bold reimagining of presidential leadership or as a troubling departure from tradition remains to be seen. For now, the capital’s skyline—and the headlines—bear unmistakable witness to a presidency determined to be seen and heard at every turn.
As the dust settles from the winter storm in Louisiana and the world digests the promise of billions for Gaza, Washington’s banners stand as a vivid reminder: in 2026, the line between politics, power, and personal legacy is as prominent—and as contested—as ever.