Donald Trump Blames Vandals for Damaged Grass on National Mall Near World War II Memorial

Trump blames vandals

President Donald Trump accused “vandals” of damaging dead grass on the National Mall near the World War II Memorial in a Truth Social post on Sunday, Aug. 16, in the same spot where he hosted a July 4 celebration.

Trump wrote, “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,” and he added, “Anybody who thinks the Reflecting Pool wasn’t vandalized should go back to Law School!”

The post referenced the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which Trump has repeatedly characterized as vandalized despite the Department of Justice dropping charges against alleged vandals in the pool case.

People reported that the grassy area pictured was the site of the Great American State Fair, a two-week-long Freedom 250 event marking 250 years of U.S. independence, and the Freedom 250 Salute to America event on the Fourth of July itself.

Photos from the celebrations showed a large bandstand and seating areas across the lawn, while Associated Press images showed damaged grass below the structures as workers dismantled them.

Reporting for this sectionPeopleWFMZ

Pirro case and lawsuit

The grass claim came as Trump also pressed U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s decisions in the World War II Memorial and Reflecting Pool vandalism matters, with People reporting that Pirro announced on X that Melissa L. Farris would face felony charges.

People said Farris has been charged with depredation against property and destruction of veterans’ memorials, which can carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison, while court documents described the Reflecting Pool damage as “flawed installation.”

Trump’s Truth Social message followed his earlier criticism of Pirro for requesting that charges against alleged vandals, including former Olympian David Hearn, be dropped, and People said prosecutors found the damage was the result of “flawed installation.”

Separately, MyNorthwest reported that the BBC asked a U.S. court for help in getting documents and testimony from Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump, Jr. in connection with Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit.

MyNorthwest quoted the filing arguing that Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump, Jr. have “personal knowledge” and likely have records relevant to Trump’s claims.

Reporting for this sectionPeopleMyNorthwest

Broader political and military

Beyond the National Mall dispute, MyNorthwest reported that President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back annual joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the ally wouldn’t help with his war against Iran and citing his good relationship with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. MyNorthwest said the USS George Washington is replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East amid concerns about mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed Lincoln, leaving the western Pacific without a key military asset as China shows more signs of aggression. The same MyNorthwest update also described the BBC’s effort to obtain testimony from Trump family members in federal court in Florida, tied to Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster.

In the National Mall context, Fox News said Trump blamed vandals without providing evidence or explaining why he believes vandals damaged the grass, while Associated Press photos showed workers dismantling the event structures and revealing brown, damaged grass underneath. Fox News added that charging documents in the World War II Memorial case do not mention the once-grassy area Trump highlighted, and it said authorities said Farris had previously been arrested for camping on federal property a few blocks from the World War II Memorial, but not the spot referenced by Trump.

Reporting for this sectionMyNorthwestFox News