USDA Displays Large Trump Banner Alongside Lincoln, Drawing Comparisons to 1984, North Korea

The Trump administration has placed a large banner featuring President Donald Trump's official portrait on the U.S. Department of Agriculture building in Washington, D.C., alongside a banner of Abraham Lincoln, the agency's founder. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins praised this as a symbol of a "Golden Age" for farmers under Trump, contrasting it with what they described as the Biden administration's bloated bureaucracy and poor agricultural policies. The banner has provoked strong criticism and comparisons to authoritarian regimes, with commentators likening it to North Korean-style propaganda and regimes where leaders' images are prominently displayed on government buildings. Critics argue that this move is an unsettling attempt to create a cult of personality around Trump, raising concerns about democratic norms and constitutional limits. Social media responses have also highlighted the stark contrast such a display would provoke if done by other presidents, emphasizing the controversial nature of the banner. The USDA defended the placement by stating the banners honor the department's history and leadership, linking Lincoln's founding vision with Trump's advocacy for farmers.