By Nathan Howard
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) – U.S. authorities were responding on Thursday to what appeared to be a large tracing of “8647” into the grounds of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
A Reuters photographer atop the Washington Monument saw the apparent tracing in the grass near the World War Two Memorial shortly before officials arrived. It shows the numbers eight, six and seven, but a four is not clearly defined.
U.S. Park Police and members of the National Guard were responding to the scene.
The term “8647” has been adopted by opponents of President Donald Trump as a protest against his administration. Trump allies and the U.S. Department of Justice have said it could be interpreted as a call to violence.
It references the slang term “86,” originating in the restaurant industry, meaning to expel or get rid of something, and Trump as the 47th U.S. president.
It was unclear how the markings in the grass were made. In those areas the grass is brown, in contrast to the surrounding green.
Spokespeople for the U.S. National Park Service and Park Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The White House also did not immediately respond.
The incident comes as the National Mall is set to be the scene for events celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in the coming weeks. Trump has devoted personal attention to refurbishing the space, including painting the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial.
The term “8647” is at the center of at least one high-profile criminal case. Federal prosecutors charged former FBI Director James Comey with threatening to assassinate Trump based on a photo he posted on social media in 2025 showing seashells on a beach arranged to form the numbers “8647.”
Comey took down the post and said he was not aware it could be interpreted as a call to violence. He has vowed to fight the charges, including on free speech grounds.
(Reporting by Nathan Howard; Writing by Andrew Goudsward; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Michael Learmonth, Daniel Wallis and Bill Berkrot)
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