Federal and local authorities launched an investigation Thursday after a large "8647" marking was found scorched or etched into the grass near the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, according to the Department of the Interior.
"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," an Interior Department spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson called it "deranged vandalism."
U.S. Park Police and members of the National Guard responded to the scene. Grass samples were collected for testing, and the cause of the discoloration had not yet been determined as of Thursday, according to U.S. Park Police.
The White House referred questions to the Department of the Interior.
The code "8647" has become a rallying symbol among opponents of President Donald Trump. The phrase combines "86"—a term rooted in restaurant industry slang meaning to remove or get rid of something—with "47," a reference to Trump serving as the nation's 47th president. Trump allies and the Department of Justice have argued the phrase could be interpreted as a call to violence against the president.
Former FBI Chief Comey
The "8647" symbol sits at the heart of at least one major federal criminal case, with former FBI Director James Comey being charged with two felony counts in April after federal prosecutors alleged he knowingly posted an image on Instagram on May 15, 2025, showing seashells on a beach arranged to spell out "8647.”Prosecutors argued that a reasonable person would interpret the post as a serious expression of intent to harm the president, and that Comey transmitted the message across state lines while consciously disregarding the risk it could be viewed as a threat.
Comey denied any intent to threaten Trump, saying he was unaware the image could be read that way, and later deleted the post. He was released following his court appearance on April 29 without special conditions. His attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, called the prosecution vindictive and said Comey was being punished for exercising his First Amendment rights.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on April 29 that Trump did not direct the DOJ to file charges. "Of course not, absolutely, positively not," Blanche told "CBS Mornings.”
A federal judge ruled earlier this month that the National Park Service could not bar an anti-Trump protest group from displaying an "8647" flag near the National Mall, showcasing the legal and political tension surrounding the symbol as Thursday's investigation got underway.