Tourists near the World War II Memorial in Washington on Thursday mostly saw dead grass. From above, authorities saw something else: large versions of the numbers "86 47" carved into the National Mall, the Washington Post reports. US Park Police, DC fire officials, and National Guard members converged on the site around 1pm, blocking off the lawn, gathering samples, and circling overhead in a Park Service helicopter as they investigated what the Interior Department labeled "deranged vandalism." The combination "86 47" has become a political slogan, with "86" slang for dumping or removing something and "47" referring to President Trump's place in the nation's lineup of chief executives.
Some Trump allies contend "86" implies violence, and the Justice Department has previously cited the numbers in an indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over a social media post. In an email to the Post, White House spokesman Davis Ingle condemned "political violence or assassination culture." The markings, visible mainly from high vantage points like the Washington Monument, were spotted as parachutists practiced landings nearby for upcoming America 250 celebrations. Authorities have not said how the numerals were created or who might be responsible. Some digits are clearer than others. "The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined," Park Police told Reuters in a statement. "Grass samples have been collected for testing."
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