A massive portrait of President Donald Trump now hangs from the front of the US Department of Agriculture’s headquarters in Washington, DC, sparking comparisons to authoritarian regimes.
The banner, placed parallel to an image of President Abraham Lincoln — who founded the USDA on May 15, 1862 — features Trump’s official presidential portrait, blown up to cover three stories of the agency’s headquarters.
Critics likened the move to displays in North Korea and the former Soviet Union, where images of leaders are routinely used to project power and foster cults of personality.
“This is deeply fascist,” an X user wrote.
“Dear leader is at it again,” said another, with one user writing, “Oh good, we are now North Korea.”
Political analyst Rachel Bitecofer warned, “He is going to go full Putin,” with another user writing, “FULL ON North Korea and Russia.”
“Day 115 of Chaos Corruption and Incompetence. He is going full on dear leader on the facade of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. on Thursday,” another critic wrote.
“Anyone not finding this brooding banner of Trump…reminiscent of North Korea and Saddam Hussein,” one comment read, “didn’t get past eighth grade.”
Many were especially disturbed by the placement of the banner alongside Lincoln, whose presidency is widely revered for defending democratic ideals.
“Equating a president who defended democracy with one who tried to overturn it is more than revisionism—it’s dangerous,” wrote @democrats_eu. “This is not a tribute to leadership—it’s the visual language of personality cults.”
In simpler terms, “This is stupid and unamerican,” one critic said. Another asked, “WTF is going on in DC?”
Others took issue with hanging the presidential portrait over a building whose budget suffered significant cuts through Trump’s DOGE initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk.
“And this is the USDA which he is slashing,” they noted. “I think he is trying to make employees sick to their stomachs so they quit.”
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins praised the banner on social media. “President Trump’s bold vision is ushering in a Golden Age for our farmers,” she proclaimed.
A USDA spokesperson said the display is to “acknowledge the vision and leadership of USDA’s founder, Abraham Lincoln, and the best advocate of America’s farmers and ranchers, President Trump.”
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