Banners of Trump's face on D.C. buildings raise propaganda concerns
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Banners hang on the USDA headquarters in May. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Banners featuring President Trump's face that have been displayed on the exterior of federal buildings around D.C. are igniting pushback.
Why it matters: While some have praised the banners, others have worried they represent overreach on behalf of the administration.
- This comes as Trump increasingly strives to leave his mark on Washington via moves like last June's military parade, the city's crime crackdown, and his sprawling White House ballroom renovation.
Driving the news: The Trump administration used at least $50,000 in taxpayer dollars to create large signs featuring the president's face or policies, alleges a new report released by Sen. Adam Schiff's office.
- The California Democrat calls the move illegal, saying the banners amount to "propaganda" mirroring "totalitarian dictators."
- White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Axios the "report would only be valuable as toilet paper" and declined to comment on the specific claims Schiff's office made.
State of play: Three federal agencies have contracted to create these types of banners over the last four months, according to Schiff's report and various news articles.
Department of Agriculture: Spent $16,400 for two banners featuring Trump and former President Lincoln, which were installed in May and now appear to have been removed, Washingtonian reports.
- A third banner featuring Trump with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was commissioned, reports Bloomberg, although TBD whether it's been displayed anywhere.
- USDA didn't return Axios' request for comment.
Department of Labor: Spent $6,000 for two banners featuring Trump's and former President Theodore Roosevelt's faces, reports the Washington Post.
- The banners were originally installed for Labor Day, but will stay up through America's 250th celebration due to "tremendous positive response," a department spokesperson tells Axios.
- They were temporarily taken down for maintenance "at no charge to taxpayers," but will be reinstalled Wednesday, says the spokesperson.
Department of Health and Human Services: Spent $33,726 for signs to be placed on the agency's headquarters promoting Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" campaign, Schiff's report found by reviewing contracting records.
- It's unclear when the signs will be created and installed, per the report.
- An HHS spokesperson didn't provide more details about the department's signs, but tells Axios that "all HHS solicitations go through a full legal and compliance review to ensure they meet federal requirements."
What they're saying: Schiff's office alleges in the report that the use of taxpayer funds for these banners breaks the law because they qualify as "propaganda."
- While agencies are allowed to create advertising materials, these banners don't or likely will not include any information about the departments or their work, says the report — instead simply featuring the president's image and political slogans.
- Schiff's office compares the banners to those used by Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, Saddam Hussein and Benito Mussolini.
Schiff's office declined to comment beyond the report, directing Axios to a summary calling the contracts an "unprecedented" effort to use "federal funds to glorify and pay tribute to a sitting U.S. president and his political agenda."