President Donald Trump on Sunday attributed damaged grass near the World War II Memorial to vandals. In a post on the social media platform Truth Social, the president shared images showing brown patches in a grassy field on the National Mall. The site was the location for a July 4 celebration hosted in coordination with the White House.
The claims follow recent legal actions regarding separate incidents at the site. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro recently announced charges against Melissa L. Farris for allegedly writing "Clean hands dirty $" in graffiti on the memorial. However, charging documents for that case do not include the grassy field referenced by the president. Additionally, the Justice Department recently moved to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn and others concerning peeling paint at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Records and images from the July 4 event show a different potential cause for the lawn damage. Associated Press photographs captured during the removal of event equipment showed damaged grass directly beneath where a large temporary bandstand had been positioned. The National Mall hosted the "Great American State Fair" during the Independence Day holiday, which required the installation of large temporary structures.
For the thousands of visitors who frequent the National Mall, the physical condition of the site is the most immediate change. The president stated that the Reflecting Pool area will be reopened "shortly," though he did not provide a specific date. A person visiting the memorial would notice the brown, dormant patches of grass and ongoing restoration efforts, as the Interior Department is currently assisting in investigations into the vandalism claims.
The situation has also highlighted internal dynamics within the administration. President Trump has expressed frustration with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro regarding the dismissal of charges in previous vandalism cases. Despite this, Todd Blanche, who was recently confirmed to a position in the Justice Department, stated he supports Pirro. The U.S. Attorney's office and the Interior Department have not yet announced whether any new charges will be filed specifically regarding the lawn damage or if the investigation has shifted toward the event organizers.