Trump attributes dead grass on National Mall to vandals after July 4 event
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President Donald Trump said vandals caused the brown patches of grass near the World War II Memorial, a site used for his Independence Day celebration, despite no evidence linking the damage to criminal activity.
President Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that vandals were responsible for the dead grass surrounding the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, an area that had hosted a stage and crowds for his July 4 celebration. He posted a photo of the brown, patchy turf and wrote, "Look what VANDALS did to the grass connecting the vandalized World War II Monument and the vandalized Reflecting Pool, which will be opened again, and better than ever, shortly."
Trump added, "Anybody who thinks the Reflecting Pool wasn’t vandalized should go back to Law School!" The president has previously blamed vandals for damage to other projects in Washington, often without supporting evidence.
Federal authorities announced an arrest related to graffiti and vandalism at the World War II Memorial, charging Melissa L. Farris with felony offenses. The indictment does not mention the grassy area highlighted by Trump. Officials noted that the lawn had been covered by a large stage and seating during the July 4 event, and subsequent photographs showed the grass damaged after the structures were removed.
Earlier, Trump had asserted that more than 400,000 people attended the celebration before a storm interrupted the program. A later post showed a photo he said displayed the numbers "86 47" in the grass, which officials described as a possible threat, but the numbers were not visible in his most recent image.
"There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!" Trump wrote, reiterating his position despite the lack of corroborating evidence.