'Deranged message' on National Mall sparks police probe as Trump security fears mount
Large "8647" Etched Into National Mall Grass Prompts Federal Investigation
A massive message reading "8647" was etched into the grass of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, drawing a swift law enforcement response and drawing the attention of federal authorities already on high alert for political threats.
U.S. Park Police were called to the scene around noon after the marking was discovered in the stretch of lawn between the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. Investigators collected grass samples from the area for testing and examination.
An Interior Department spokesperson issued a statement condemning the act, saying the department would not tolerate what it called "deranged" vandalism on the Mall. "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," the spokesperson said.
The Trump administration has previously interpreted the number "86" as a political threat, pointing to its common use in the restaurant industry to mean removing or refusing service, while "47" has been read as a reference to President Donald Trump as the 47th president. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle echoed that interpretation in a statement to the press. "Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible," Ingle said. "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."
The incident comes just days before Trump's birthday on Sunday, which coincides with a UFC event scheduled at the South Lawn of the White House. The Ultimate Fighting Championship held a weigh-in near the Lincoln Memorial on Friday, with organizers expecting roughly 4,000 spectators. The fight night is part of a broader series of major events tied to America's upcoming 250th birthday celebration, which is expected to draw massive crowds to the capital and require heightened security, road closures, and a significant law enforcement presence.
Federal scrutiny of "86 47" messages intensified recently after the Department of Justice charged former FBI Director James Comey in connection with a similar message. Comey faces two federal counts stemming from an Instagram post last year in which seashells were arranged to read "86 47." He has denied wrongdoing, saying he did not intend the post as a call for violence and removed it once critics raised concerns about its interpretation. If convicted, Comey could face up to 10 years in prison.
The National Mall incident adds to a string of threats and violence directed at Trump in recent years. In April, the president was targeted at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. In 2024, two assassination attempts were made on his life, including one in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, when a gunman climbed onto a roof during a campaign rally and a bullet grazed Trump's ear.
No suspects have been publicly identified in the National Mall case as of Friday. The U.S. Park Police investigation is ongoing.