In a stunning display of protest art that has taken Washington, D.C., by storm, new posters depicting a masked figure dubbed “Sandwich Guy” hurling hoagies at the faces of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller have popped up across the city’s Shaw neighborhood. Unveiled on September 2, 2025, these bold, Banksy-inspired images have gone viral, igniting fierce debates on social media and symbolizing resistance to President Trump’s controversial “crime emergency” crackdown in the nation’s capital.

The posters stem from an August 2025 incident involving Sean Dunn, a former Department of Justice employee, who allegedly threw a sub-style sandwich at federal officers during a heated confrontation. The moment, captured on video, exploded online, turning Dunn into a folk hero for some and a symbol of defiance against Trump’s federalization of D.C.’s police and National Guard deployment. The original black-and-white posters, mimicking Banksy’s iconic Love Is In The Air—where a masked figure throws flowers instead of a grenade—showed Dunn winding up to toss a colorful hoagie. The latest iterations, however, take it a step further, vividly illustrating the sandwich smacking Hegseth and Miller, with lettuce dramatically spilling over their heads.

Dunn’s actions followed Trump’s August 11 declaration of a “crime emergency,” despite violent crime in D.C. hitting a 30-year low. Court records detail how Dunn, 37, confronted a Customs and Border Protection agent, yelling, “F*** you! You f***ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” before throwing the sandwich. Initially charged with felony assault, Dunn was released after prosecutors failed to secure an indictment, with charges downgraded to a misdemeanor. His defiance, now immortalized in street art, has resonated with those opposing Trump’s policies, with X users posting, “Sandwich Guy is a legend!” and “These posters are the resistance we need!”

The posters, first spotted in Shaw, have sparked both admiration and outrage. Supporters see them as a creative jab at the administration’s heavy-handed tactics, with one X user writing, “Hegseth and Miller getting hoagie-slapped? Iconic!” Critics, however, align with White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson, who dismissed the art as “liberal activist nonsense” and urged focus on an alleged “tremendous drop in crime” credited to Trump. Metropolitan Police Department data, however, shows 442 crimes reported in the past week, undermining claims of a “crime-free zone” touted by Trump on Truth Social.

Public sentiment, reflected in a recent Washington Post-Schar School poll, reveals deep skepticism about Trump’s approach, with 79% of D.C. residents opposing the National Guard deployment and 65% doubting its effectiveness in reducing crime. The posters, with their satirical edge, amplify this discontent, turning Dunn’s act into a cultural phenomenon. Art critics note the Banksy homage—replacing flowers with a sandwich—carries a message of peaceful yet pointed resistance, blending humor with rebellion.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, and Miller, a key Trump advisor, have been lightning rods for criticism, with their roles in the administration’s crime policies drawing scrutiny. The posters, plastering their images across lamp posts and walls, have fueled online memes, with one X post joking, “Hoagies: the new weapon of free speech!” The art’s spread, from Shaw to Georgetown, has even inspired light projections of Dunn’s silhouette, further cementing his “Sandwich Guy” moniker.

The controversy has reignited debates about free expression and protest in D.C., a city already tense from federal interventions. Dunn, now a symbol of defiance, has not commented publicly since his release, but his supporters view the posters as a rallying cry. “This is art fighting power,” one X user declared. Meanwhile, the administration’s pushback, including Jackson’s “fake news” jab, highlights the polarized response to the protest.

As D.C.’s streets become a canvas for dissent, the hoagie-hurling posters have transcended mere art, becoming a viral sensation that captures the city’s unrest. Whether seen as a bold statement or a provocative stunt, they’ve put Hegseth and Miller in the crosshairs of public discourse. With tensions simmering and more posters reportedly appearing, “Sandwich Guy” has sparked a movement that’s as messy and impactful as a well-aimed hoagie, leaving the nation watching what happens next.