Anti-Trump Slogan '8647' Vandalism on National Mall Sparks Federal Investigation

Someone appears to have written the anti-Trump slogan “8647” into the grass of the National Mall, prompting an investigation from federal officials. Park Police arrived at the scene, between the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument, on Thursday around 11:30 a.m., responding to reports of vandalism. “The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined,” the Park Police told The Independent. “Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.” “8647” has been adopted as an anti-Trump slogan, combining the slang term “86,” which refers to throwing out or getting rid of something, and the Republican’s status as the 47th president. “The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated,” the Department of Interior said in a statement. “Any threat against the President is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable.” National Guard troops were also spotted on the scene. The slogan previously created a political firestorm last May when former FBI Director James Comey tweeted an image of “8647” written in stones on a beach. The Trump administration has indicted Comey, a prominent Trump critic, for allegedly threatening the president. Comey quickly took down the post and apologized, claiming that his intentions were “totally innocent“ and that he was unaware that the slogan could have a violent connotation. He argues that the multiple prosecutions the administration has launched against him are politically motivated. The White House has argued that Trump critics and Democrats regularly engage in violent rhetoric about the president, who has faced multiple assassination attempts since 2024. “Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible,” the White House told The Independent in a statement. “They should also immediately seek psychiatric help to treat their severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has warped their brains and made them sick in the head.” Pranksters and artists have used Washington’s landmarks as a backdrop on which to protest Trump throughout his second term.