A “deranged” vandal apparently figured out a way to kill or discolor the grass on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to spell out the numbers “8647.”
As former FBI Director James Comey knows, that’s a loaded number combination. “86” comes from the restaurant world, where it means “cut off that customer” among other things — but it’s also tied to mob lore, where “86” means “get rid” of. As in neutralize. As in kill.
“47” meanwhile, refers to the nation’s 47th president, Donald J. Trump.
Comey is currently being prosecuted by the Department of Justice for posting a picture to social media showing seashells that had been shaped to form those numbers. Incredibly, he was once the nation’s top cop yet claimed he had no idea what the numbers could mean or that they could be considered a threat against the commander in chief. He’s also got a Potomac River bridge he’d like to sell you.
It’s unclear if he’s been asked about the current situation:
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 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.
At first, I could only make out the “8,” but then I copied the photo, zoomed in, and was able to make out a faint “6” with the “47” beneath that (though not very clearly).
The US Department of the Interior said it's investigating what appeared to be a large tracing of the numbers '8647' into the grounds of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The meaning of the numbers has drawn varied interpretations https://t.co/84ijys0X4m pic.twitter.com/Fs31ZKffG9
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 11, 2026
MORE: Democrats Can't Downplay the '8647' Symbolism VIP
Comey Responds Predictably to Indictment With Self-Pitying, Sanctimonious Video—'I Am Innocent'
How did the vandal or vandals do it? We do not yet have an answer to that question:
It was unclear how the markings in the grass were made. In areas, the grass turned brown to form the shape of numbers in contrast to the surrounding green.
The U.S. Park Police said the cause of the "discoloration" has not yet been determined. A spokesperson said grass samples have been collected for testing and an investigation is ongoing.
The White House referred questions about the incident to the Department of the Interior.
The incident comes as the National Mall is set to be the scene for events celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in the coming weeks. Trump has devoted personal attention to refurbishing the space, including painting the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial. A 16-day "Great American State Fair" is set to take place on the National Mall beginning June 25.
Here’s a closer look:
The U.S. Park Police is reportedly investigating the marks, which appeared Thursday.https://t.co/VbFWrAFXqZ pic.twitter.com/2FQhkXBRl9
— Forbes (@Forbes) June 11, 2026
While it’s always refreshing to drag James “Holier Than Thou” Comey, the incident is actually disturbing for (at least) two reasons: 1) that the perp was able to accomplish this large act without being noticed, and 2) that defacing our communal property with a message wishing for the murder of the president is sick. That's especially true after the multiple assassination attempts against Trump, the senseless killing of TPUSA co-founder Charlie Kirk, and the sickening murder of two Minnesota Democrats in June 2025 by a guy with muddled, incomprehensible political views.
Whoever came up with this stunt might have thought it was really funny, but what would make me laugh is seeing them twiddling their thumbs in a 6x10 cell.
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