A “deranged” vandal scrawled a giant anti-Trump message declaring “8647” in the grass at the National Mall in Washington, DC — a coded slogan officials have said encourages violence against the president.
The string of numbers, likely meant to be viewed from above, appeared as dead brown grass in a large chunk of lawn just east of the World War II Memorial Thursday.
The term “8647″ references the restaurant slang “86”— meaning to get rid of something — along with Trump as the 47th US president.
The term “8647″ references the restaurant slang “86”— meaning to get rid of something — along with Trump as the 47th U.S. president.
Trump allies and the US Department of Justice have said the political slogan should be interpreted as a call to violence — while Trump opponents have insisted it’s simply a call to expel the president from office.
A spokesperson for the Department of Interior, which manages the National Mall, on Thursday said the message was “deranged vandalism” and “will not be tolerated.”
Officials responded to the vandalism Thursday and removed some of the numbers, according to an aerial-view photo.
The White House denounced the display and accused the vandal of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
“Anyone who engages in or endorses political violence or assassination culture must be condemned in the harshest terms possible,” a White House spokesperson said 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,” the statement said.
The incident came just days before crowds were expected to flock to America’s front lawn to celebrate Trump’s birthday with a UFC match at the White House Sunday.
The National Mall is also set to be the scene for events celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in coming weeks.
The massive circular markings appeared to be made by killing or staining the grass. REUTERSIn April, Former FBI Director James Comey turned himself in to federal authorities after a grand jury indicted him on charges of threatening to kill President Trump in a social media post featuring “8647” written in seashells last year.
“It’s a mob term for ‘kill him’,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office at the time. “They say, ’86 the son of a gun.’”
The “8647” markings were removed Thursday. REUTERSIt was unclear how the vandal created the numbers in the grass.
Reps for the US National Park Service and Park Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.
With Post wires
