Grass on the National Mall Is Vandalized With '86 47' Stains

[marble falls]

Grass on the National Mall Is Vandalized With ‘86 47’ Stains

The vandalism was the latest in a spate of apparent demonstrations involving the slang term, which the Trump administration says is a reference to assassinating the president.

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By Neil Vigdor
June 11, 2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/us/national-mall-grass-vandalized-86-47-trump.html


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But even such a highly visible space in the heart of the nation’s capital is susceptible to vandalism, as the U.S. Park Police was reminded on Thursday when they discovered large stains in the grass spelling out the numbers “86 47.”

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It was not immediately clear what caused the stains. However, someone apparently had gone to considerable lengths to discolor the grass days before President Trump is set to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship event nearby at the White House on Sunday, his 80th birthday.

The U.S. Park Police said in a statement on Thursday that it was investigating the vandalism, which was reported around 11:30 a.m. on the west lawn of the Washington Monument.

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The White House denounced the act. “Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible,” Davis Ingle, a White House spokesman, said in a statement on Thursday.

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No modern president has sought to impose a bigger imprint on the appearance of the nation’s capital than Mr. Trump, the real estate mogul who is known to dwell on aesthetics. Since returning to office last year, he has torn down the East Wing of the White House, paved over the Rose Garden with stone tiles, resealed the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall with blue-tinted paint and sought to build a 250-foot triumphal arch. The projects have generated controversy and opposition.

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Dr. Feldman was more concerned about some of the changes to the character to the city than grass stains. “People are just frustrated because the Mall is being remade, I think,” she said.

[Happy Hoosier]

1. *improved. NT

[marble falls]

4. Park police claim it happened around 11:30 last night, so it's going to become more visible. Good.

[jls4561]

2. This is nothing compared to the vandalism imposed on the city by the thug squatting at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[marble falls]

5. He puts his stinking mark EVERYWHERE, we can, too.

[milestogo]

3. I think it was aliens.

In fact, I hope it was aliens. They have the technology and they aren't afraid to use it.

[Attilatheblond]

6. Maybe THIS will finally get RoundUp banned

[marble falls]

8. Isn't it crazy, there will be commercial to make a claim on the Roundup settlement and the next commercial is ...

... selling Roundup. Only in America.

[Ponietz]

7. If they say "86" is a death threat tell them "23 skidoo 47" would have caused far more damage

[marble falls]

9. I've 86'd a lot of folks and not one of them had a hair damaged.

[Captain Zero]

10. Pffft! The entire White House looks Vandalized

Heck the White House looks Vandalized, or even like Iran hit it with a couple drones.

[Aristus]

11. "White House Vandalized By The Shithead Who Is Squatting There."

Let's see more of those headlines...

[Srkdqltr]

12. No cameras?

[marble falls]

14. the damage was first noticed on a video from a camera on the Washington Monument.

[B.See]

13. Maybe it's an 'act of God.'