Federal authorities are investigating after a large “8647” marking appeared on the grounds of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., reigniting controversy surrounding a slogan that has become a rallying cry among critics of President Donald Trump.
The Department of the Interior confirmed Thursday that the U.S. Park Police are investigating the incident, which officials described as vandalism. Authorities said the marking was discovered on the Mall’s west lawn near the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial.
Photographs circulating online show the numbers “8647” etched into the grass, with the message large enough to be visible from elevated viewpoints overlooking the Mall. Officials have not yet determined how the marking was created. Park Police have reportedly collected grass samples as part of their investigation.
“The Department condemns this act of vandalism and any threat against the president,” Interior Department officials said in a statement announcing the investigation.
The phrase “8647” has become increasingly common in anti-Trump circles. Supporters of the slogan generally interpret it as a combination of “86”—a slang term that can mean to remove, reject, or get rid of something—and “47,” referring to Trump as the nation’s 47th president.
However, critics have argued the phrase carries more sinister implications, claiming it could be interpreted as advocating violence against the president. The debate has intensified in recent months as the slogan has appeared in demonstrations, social media posts, and political activism directed at the Trump administration.
The controversy gained national attention earlier this year when former FBI Director James Comey posted an image showing shells arranged to form the numbers “8647.” The post quickly drew criticism from Trump allies and prompted a Secret Service inquiry. Comey later stated he had not intended the image as a threat, but the incident transformed the phrase into a national political flashpoint.
The latest National Mall incident is not the first time federal authorities have confronted displays of the slogan.
In May, Park Police investigated a separate case involving a large “8647” graffiti message spray-painted inside the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which is currently undergoing renovation.
The slogan has also become the subject of a legal battle between activists and the federal government.
Just weeks ago, a federal judge blocked the National Park Service from removing an “8647” flag displayed during a permitted demonstration near the National Mall. The court ruled that the government could not prohibit the display based solely on its interpretation of the message, finding that the phrase was entitled to First Amendment protection absent evidence of a true threat.
As of Thursday afternoon, officials had not identified any suspects or announced any arrests. The investigation remains ongoing.
