Key takeaways:
- U.S. Park Police said the numbers “8647” were marked in the grass on the west lawn of the Washington Monument and that grass samples were collected for testing.
- The Interior Department called the incident “deranged vandalism” and said any threat against the president is taken very seriously.
- The same number sequence drew attention after former FBI Director James Comey posted and deleted an Instagram image of seashells arranged as “86 47.”
Federal authorities are investigating after large markings resembling the numbers “8647” appeared in the grass on the National Mall near the Washington Monument, prompting officials to call the incident vandalism and collect grass samples for testing.
The markings were visible Thursday in photos and live webcam footage from atop the Washington Monument. The “8” appeared most clearly, while the “6,” “4” and “7” were fainter. Images showed the tracings in the grass with the World War II Memorial in the background.
“At approximately 11.30am, US Park police responded to a report of vandalism of the west lawn of the Washington Monument,” the U.S. Park Police said, according to The Guardian. “The numbers ‘8647’ were marked in the grass.
“The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined. Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.”
It was not immediately clear who made the markings, when they were made or how they appeared in the grass. CBS News reported that a Reuters photographer saw the apparent markings shortly before federal authorities arrived to examine the scene.
A spokesperson for the Interior Department condemned the incident in a statement.
“The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated,” the spokesperson said. “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 number sequence has drawn scrutiny because of the meaning some have assigned to it. Merriam-Webster defines “86” as slang meaning to throw out or get rid of something, a term commonly used in restaurant kitchens that originated at soda counters in the 1930s. Donald Trump is the 47th president of the United States.
Trump has said the term “86” is a mob term that connotes violence and, when paired with “47,” means “kill President Trump.” In April, he wrote on Truth Social: “EIGHT MILES OUT, SIX FEET DOWN!”
The sequence also became the focus of a separate case involving former FBI Director James Comey. Comey was charged after sharing an Instagram post last year showing seashells on a beach arranged to form “86 47.” He later deleted the post and said he believed the shell formation conveyed a political message.
“I didn’t realize some folks associated those numbers with violence,” Comey said in a statement on Instagram, according to The Guardian. “It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”
CBS News reported that Comey was charged with two counts of making threats against Trump and has not yet entered a plea, with an arraignment scheduled in New Bern, North Carolina, in late September. The Guardian reported that the Justice Department charged Comey with two felonies, including making a threat against the president and transmitting that threat across state lines via social media, and that Comey has maintained his innocence and vowed to fight the charges.
The National Mall, often called “America’s Front Yard,” stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol. It is set to host events tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, including what The Guardian described as the “Great American State Fair.” The Guardian also reported that the incident follows extensive renovations to the area, including a $13.1 million makeover of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
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