Local and federal authorities in Washington responded on Thursday to a message that was drawn in the grass covering the National Mall: “86 47,” which has been interpreted by President Donald Trump and his allies as a threat toward the commander-in-chief.
The characters appeared in the form of dead grass near the WWII Memorial, though authorities said it remains unclear how the markings were made. Three of the numbers — 8, 6, and 7 — were more visible than the 4 on Thursday when authorities could be seen inspecting the site. The message was not clearly visible from the ground, and could only be seen from an aerial vantage point.
“86” is a common restaurant-industry term for removing an item from the menu or booting a customer from an establishment, while “47” is commonly seen as a reference to Trump, who is the 47th president.
The message has been widely used over the past year as a show of opposition toward the president and his policies. Many of Trump’s allies have argued the numbers represent a threat to his life and have even sought to prosecute those who wrote them.
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The Interior Department confirmed to NOTUS that U.S. Park Police was investigating the matter.
“The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated. 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,” a spokesperson for the Interior Department said in a statement.
A photographer for Reuters was the first to spot the message.
US authorities were responding to what appeared to be a large tracing of '8647' into the grounds of the National Mall in Washington, DC. A Reuters photographer atop the Washington Monument saw the apparent tracing shortly before officials arrived https://t.co/L5L44zzOV3
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 11, 2026
In April, former FBI Director James Comey was charged by the Department of Justice over an Instagram post from 2025 depicting sea shells arranged to say “86 47.” Comey apologized and claimed he didn’t know the numbers could be interpreted as a threat to the president. The trial is scheduled to begin in October.
Just this month, a federal judge ruled that the National Park Service cannot take action against Accountability NOW USA, an organization that has an “86 47” flag as part of its ongoing permitted demonstration in Washington.
The Secret Service had previously started an investigation into a volunteer with the organization after the flag was displayed, but referred NOTUS to the U.S. Park Police for updates on the Thursday etchings.
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