❓WHAT HAPPENED: A massive portrait of Donald Trump was displayed on the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C., featuring his second inaugural portrait, the America 250 logo, and the slogan “American Workers First.”
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former President Donald Trump, Department of Labor, and critics including Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern and labor organizations like the AFL-CIO.
📍WHEN & WHERE: August 25, 2025, at the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C.
💬KEY QUOTE: “A lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator,” Trump remarked before clarifying, “I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with common sense and a smart person.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: The display has sparked comparisons to authoritarian imagery and criticism from labor groups over Trump’s policies affecting workers and unions.
A three-story portrait of Donald Trump was unveiled on the Department of Labor building in Washington, D.C., on August 25, 2025. The image features Trump’s second inaugural portrait, accompanied by the slogan “American Workers First” and the America 250 initiative logo. An American flag and a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt with the same motto flank it.
The portrait has drawn sharp criticism from political figures and labor advocates. Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern compared the display to portraits of North Korean leaders, while California Governor Gavin Newsom mocked it with a satirical post on X (formerly Twitter). Labor groups, including the AFL-CIO, denounced the banner, pointing to Trump’s track record of union rollbacks.
Trump responded to critics during a press event, addressing accusations of authoritarianism. “A lot of people are saying maybe we’d like a dictator,” he said, before clarifying, “I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with common sense and a smart person.” He also defended his administration’s policies, arguing they are aimed at improving efficiency and addressing national security concerns.
The Trump administration has faced backlash from the far left for its aggressive stance against unions. Over one million federal employees have lost collective bargaining rights since January. Labor groups, however, warn that proposed rollbacks will disproportionately harm minorities and immigrants, focusing less on the American worker and more on the often illegal foreign laborer.
While the Department of Labor has not announced plans for similar displays at other federal buildings, this is not the first time Trump’s image has appeared on government facilities. Earlier this year, a banner featuring Trump and Abraham Lincoln was displayed on the Department of Agriculture building.
Join Pulse+ to comment below and receive exclusive email analyses. Image courtesy of Raheem Kassam.