Federal authorities are investigating large numbers “8647” traced into the grass on the National Mall near the Washington Monument on June 11, 2026, a marking that opponents of President Trump use to signal protest against his administration.
U.S. Park Police responded to the site around 11:30 a.m. Thursday after the markings were discovered. The numbers appeared as brown spots in the lawn, large enough to be photographed from atop the Washington Monument, with the “8” and “7” clearly visible and the “6” and “4” fainter.
“The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined,” Park Police said in a statement. “Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.”
The U.S. Department of the Interior, which manages the National Mall, called the vandalism “deranged” in a statement. “The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated,” the department 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 Meaning Behind the Numbers
The phrase “8647” has emerged as protest code among critics of Trump’s second term. The “86” originates from American restaurant industry slang meaning to remove or get rid of something, while “47” refers to Trump’s position as the 47th U.S. president. Combined, the phrase is interpreted by Trump supporters as signaling opposition to the president.
The Trump administration has previously characterized “8647” messages as threatening. This interpretation gained prominence after former FBI Director James Comey posted a photo of seashells arranged in the “8647” pattern on Instagram in May 2025. In April 2026, Comey was indicted on two counts related to that post: knowingly and willfully making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the president, and digitally transmitting the alleged threat. Comey faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted and has said he will fight the charges.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about the government’s interpretation. The BBC reported in April 2026 that legal experts questioned whether the term, rooted in decades of restaurant vocabulary, truly constitutes a federal threat. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “eighty-six” as slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of,” or “to refuse service.”
It remains unclear who marked the National Mall grass or whether it was done by an individual or a group. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has not commented on whether charges will be pursued in this case.
Sources
- NBC4 Washington — Park Police response timeline, markings visibility, Department of Interior statement, Comey indictment context
- Reuters — Initial report of the markings on the National Mall
- BBC — Definition of “86” and legal experts’ skepticism about threat interpretation
- CNN — Comey indictment details and charges
- AP News — Comey indictment wording and counts
- USA Today — Meaning of “8647” and Trump as 47th president
