
(Ed Schipul, CC via Wikimedia Commons)
The National Park Service is investigating the vandalism of the National Mall’s reflecting pool with a phrase that many supporters of President Donald Trump view as an assassination threat.
The term “8647” was found graffitied on the reflecting pool, which is currently under renovation, Friday, the NPS told the Washington Examiner. The United States Park Police began the investigation of the spray-painted slogan, which was the subject of an indictment charging former FBI Director James Comey with threatening Trump, on Friday.
“Around 7:20 a.m. this morning, the U.S. Park Police was notified by the National Park Service of approximately 15-by-30-foot ‘8647’ graffiti spray-painted in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool,” the NPS told the Washington Examiner.
The U.S. Park Police is investigating the area around the under-renovation Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, where “8647” graffiti was found on Friday. https://t.co/b46HpoZIeT
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 1, 2026
Independent reporter Andrew Leyden posted on X about the police activity Friday as the probe into the vandalism started.
“Two areas of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool are covered by tarps this morning, and US Park Police are on scene talking to workers and apparently looking for evidence,” Leyden posted. “Unknown what happened, but the construction site has reportedly had some graffiti over the last few days, and the ‘Thank You Trump’ banners have been removed.”
Trump supporters view the term “8647” as a threat to kill the president, who has survived multiple assassination attempts, including two during the 2024 presidential campaign, two attempts to send poisoned letters and one attempt during the 2016 campaign. A federal grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey Tuesday on charges of threatening to assassinate Trump over a May 2025 Instagram post which depicted seashells saying “8647.”
Democratic California Rep. Ted Lieu posted “8647” Sunday, responding to a clip of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche discussing the Comey indictment. Lieu boasted that Blanche would eventually lose his law license and that Comey would receive a massive cash payout for “selective prosecution.”
The phrase also appeared at numerous demonstrations held by left-wing groups Friday as part of May Day.
The NPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].