OAN Staff Jenna Lee
6:10 PM – Thursday, June 11, 2026
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it will investigate what appears to be a huge “8647” marking on the National Mall grounds in Washington, D.C.
A Reuters photographer captured an image on Thursday of the marking in the grass from atop the Washington Monument before authorities arrived on the scene. The numbers eight, six and seven were identified, but a four is not clearly defined. In some areas, the grass had turned brown to form the shape of the numbers in contrast to the surrounding green.
“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,” said an Interior Department spokesperson, referring to the incident as “deranged vandalism.”
The term “8647” has been adopted by President Donald Trump’s opponents as a dark “protest” against him and his administration, referencing the restaurant/bar slang “86” (meaning to refuse service and get rid of), and Trump’s status as the 47th U.S. president. Trump allies and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) maintain that the term is a subliminal call to violence.
The incident comes as preparations are being made at the National Mall for events celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in the coming weeks. The reference to Trump also appears just days prior to the massive crowds expected in Washington, D.C., for a UFC event on Sunday, coinciding with Flag Day and the president’s 80th birthday.
The term is also currently at the center of former FBI Director James Comey’s legal battle. Federal prosecutors charged Comey with threatening the president based on a 2025 social media post showing seashells on a beach arranged to form “8647.” Comey has since deleted the post and claimed he was “unaware” of its interpretation as a call to violence, vowing to fight the charges on free speech grounds.
It remains unclear how the markings were made. The U.S. Park Police stated that the official cause of the discoloration remains undetermined, noting that grass samples have been collected for testing while the investigation is ongoing.
“Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws. The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that, at a time when this country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials. The temperature needs to be turned down, and anyone who dials it up and threatens the life of the President will be held accountable,” said acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche in an April statement regarding the Comey case.
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