{"id":2645987,"date":"2026-08-17T11:07:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-blames-vandals-for-damaging-national-mall-grass\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T11:07:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T15:07:44","slug":"trump-blames-vandals-for-damaging-national-mall-grass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-blames-vandals-for-damaging-national-mall-grass\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump blames &#8216;VANDALS&#8217; for damaging National Mall grass"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-blames-vandals-for-damaging-national-mall-grass%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645987&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald Trump attributed recent vandalism on the National Mall-specifically, damage to the grass connecting the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial-to vandals. This occurred days after vandals allegedly filled the World War II Memorial fountain with soap, causing it to bubble. Trump shared images and comments on Truth Social criticizing the vandalism, asserting that the Reflecting Pool was also vandalized. The area in question was used for the salute to America festival, part of the Fourth of July celebrations marking the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary, which included military flyovers, music, fireworks, and Trump&#8217;s speech. Earthcam footage suggests that much of the damage to the grass may have been due to construction and event cleanup rather than vandalism. The White House and the Department of the Interior did not respond to requests for comment. The incident highlights ongoing concerns over vandalism in Washington, D.C., with recent incidents including graffiti and bubble-filled fountains at the World War II Memorial.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> blamed vandals for destroying a stretch of grass on the National Mall between the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, days after vandals allegedly filled the World War II Memorial fountain with soap, causing it to bubble.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLook 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,\u201d Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/117108132750817532\">wrote on Truth Social<\/a>. \u201cAnybody who thinks the Reflecting Pool wasn\u2019t vandalized should go back to Law School!\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4689466\/trump-blames-vandals-national-mall-grass-graffiti-wwii-memorial\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump blames \u2018VANDALS\u2019 for damaging National Mall grass after World War II Memorial graffiti<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4689472\/andy-burnham-susie-wiles-impersonator-texts\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>UK prime minister mistakenly texts Susie Wiles impersonator<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4689396\/trump-threatens-bomb-oman-if-country-gets-in-way\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump threatens to \u2018bomb the s***\u2019 out of Oman if the Gulf country \u2018gets in the way\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">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. Anybody who thinks the Reflecting Pool wasn\u2019t vandalized should go back to Law School! President\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hQx8ieCUZq\">pic.twitter.com\/hQx8ieCUZq<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\u2014 Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TrumpTruthOnX\/status\/2089155378420547968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 17, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The area Trump appeared to be referring to was also the site of the stage for the Salute to America festival, part of the nation\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/america-250\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"20120\">250th anniversary<\/a> celebration on the Fourth of July. The event featured military flyovers, musical performances, fireworks, and a keynote address from Trump.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the weeks surrounding the festival, the grass in the area underwent significant construction and sustained heavy use as crews installed and later dismantled the event stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EarthCam footage from a live camera <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.earthcam.com\/usa\/dc\/washingtonmonument\/?cam=wamo\">overlooking the Washington Monument<\/a> appears to show that by July 11, the grass had been nearly entirely torn up following the removal of the stage. The footage raises questions about whether the damage Trump attributed to vandals was, at least in part, related to preparations for and cleanup after the July 4 celebration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The White House and<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/interior-department\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"16456\"> Department of the Interior<\/a> did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\" style=\"--aspect-ratio:calc(696 \/ 464)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\n<figure><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool are seen from the Washington Monument, the day after the Salute to America Independence Day celebration honoring the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary on the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Rahmat Gul\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\n<figure><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool are seen from the Washington Monument, the day after the Salute to America Independence Day celebration honoring the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary on the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Rahmat Gul\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\n<figure><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool are seen from the Washington Monument, the day after the Salute to America Independence Day celebration honoring the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary on the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (Rahmat Gul\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\">\n<figure><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Washington Monument stands parallel with the metal posts which held the roof of the main stage for the Fourth of July celebrations on the National Mall, Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Washington. (Manuel Balce Ceneta\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4687662\/trump-possible-campaign-spending-2026-elections\/\">WHERE TRUMP COULD SPEND HIS $400 MILLION WAR CHEST IN NOVEMBER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s comments come amid heightened attention from his administration surrounding alleged vandalism in the district.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, the department said vandals were responsible for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4686871\/interior-department-world-war-ii-memorial-fountain-vandalized-bubbles\/\">bubbles that filled the fountain <\/a>at the National World War II Memorial. Photos showed large mounds of bubbles in the fountain, along with graffiti on the monument reading, \u201cClean hands dirty $.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/static-assets-1.truthsocial.com\/tmtg:prime-ts-assets\/media_attachments\/files\/117\/108\/131\/194\/042\/849\/original\/74030ea9a61b988c.jpg?_gl=1*j3kxv9*_gcl_au*MTAwMzI1NzI1Ni4xNzg2Mzg0NDYy\"><\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump blames vandals for damaging National Mall grass after WWII Memorial vandalism<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2645988,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26186676776305.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33612,3634,6774],"class_list":["post-2645987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-national-mall","tag-trump","tag-vandals"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26186676776305.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645987"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645990,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645987\/revisions\/2645990"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}