President Donald Trump is blaming vandals for large spots of dead grass on the National Mall near the World War II Memorial, the same area where the president hosted crowds for a 4th of July celebration.
Trump made the claim without providing evidence or explaining why he believes vandals damaged the grass. He shared a photo showing an area by the World War II Memorial with patches of brown and dead grass across much of the sprawling turf that was previously full of green grass.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Anybody who thinks the Reflecting Pool wasn’t vandalized should go back to Law School!” he continued.
Trump had a large stage built and invited crowds to the same lawn for his Independence Day celebration last month. He is now blaming vandals for the grass damage. Crowds gathered to hear from the president and watch fireworks to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Photos from the celebration show a large bandstand and seating areas covering nearly the entire lawn Trump now says was damaged by vandals. Photos from subsequent days showed workers removing the structures, revealing brown and damaged grass underneath. The photographs show that event infrastructure occupied much of the affected lawn, but do not by themselves establish what caused all of the grass damage.
Trump has repeatedly blamed vandals for damage to his renovation projects in Washington, D.C., often without evidence and contradicting accounts from his officials.
Earlier this month, Trump criticized U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro after her office moved to dismiss the vandalism case after newly disclosed evidence showed widespread liner damage stemming from a flawed installation and the rush to complete the project ahead of Independence Day events, undermining the case against the defendant.
On Friday, an arrest was made in connection with vandalism at the World War II Memorial after the words “Clean hands dirty $” were found painted on the monument and bubbles filled a fountain.
Felony charges in that case are being brought against Melissa Farris, according to Pirro.
Charging documents in that case do not mention the once-grassy area Trump referred to in his new social media post. Authorities said Farris was previously arrested for camping on federal property a few blocks from the World War II Memorial, but not the spot referenced by Trump.
On Aug. 1, Trump posted a different photo of the same area of dead that appears to show the numbers “86 47,” which federal officials argue is a threat against Trump. The numbers are not visible in the photo Trump shared on Sunday.
Trump cited that image as evidence against Pirro’s conclusion, describing it as “a pure case of VANDALISM, that included the grass.”
“There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!” he wrote.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., alerted the Democratic Party to voter groups that it needs to shore up support in the state of Michigan, including union members and seniors.
Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock Eleven years ago, my colleagues and I estimated that about 2 million people around the world were dying from fungal infections annually. My…
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/the-2024-cabane-panache-festival-in-verdun-right-a-man-pours-maple-syrup-on-snow.jpg?id=56635301&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C36%2C0%2C36"/><br/><br/><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/free-activities-montreal-march" target="_blank">March is here</a>, and you know what that means — <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/cabane-a-sucre" target="_blank">cabane à sucre</a> season is back in Quebec! The good news is you don't have to venture far out of Montreal to join the fun.</p><p>From Thursday, March 20 to Sunday, March 23, 2025, Verdun's Cabane Panache is popping up on Promenade Wellington for a four-day maple-infused celebration. This year marks the festival’s 13th edition, which coincides with Verdun’s 150th anniversary. </p><p>As a result, you can expect the event to be bigger and better than ever, spilling down the street with live music, delicious food, and that signature lumberjack charm. Plus, admission is completely free, so everyone's invited to join the celebration.</p><p>This year's edition blends Quebec’s classic sugar shack traditions with a modern twist. Three outdoor stages will showcase local talent like Émile Bilodeau's folk-rock, Bernard Adamus' rugged blues, and Clay and Friends' funky Sunday finale. All the performers are Quebec-based, bringing a mix of trad, country, and bluegrass sounds that'll have your boots tapping.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTnqBMK1-D/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTnqBMK1-D/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>When hunger strikes, head over to the Espace Cookerie, where 18 local Verdun eateries will be serving up maple-infused delights. From Chef Jean-Michel Leblond’s indulgent poutine au foie gras to Archway’s vegan bao tofu, prices range from $6 to $8. As the festival's spokesperson, Leblond says it's all about "culinary art, culture, and community."</p><p>Over at the Espace Bouésson, you'll find drinks to match the vibe. Sip on Benelux's Cimonak, maple-smoked porter or a Coureur des Bois whisky-maple cocktail, served in $2 reusable cups. </p><p>And for that authentic cabane experience, Le Sucrier Urbain will be offering tire sur neige for $4 a pop.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGQjamQBYf7/" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGQjamQBYf7/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Getting there is a breeze — you can either take the metro to De L'Église station, bike over (bike racks are on-site), or park nearby in one of over 500 available spots. </p><h3>Cabane Panache 2025</h3><br/><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGYNpsLPSBc/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGYNpsLPSBc/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>Price: Free entry</p><p>When: March 20–23, 2025</p><ul><li><span style="">Thursday</span>: 5 PM – 9 PM</li><li>Friday: 5 PM – 10 PM</li><li>Saturday: 11 AM – 6 PM</li><li><span style="">Sunday</span>: 11 AM – 5 PM</li></ul><p>Where: Promenade Wellington, Verdun, QC</p><p>Accessibility: Metro (De L'Église), bike racks, bus lines (12, 37, 61, 350)</p><p><a href="https://www.promenadewellington.com/fr/evenement/cabane-panache-13e-edition/" target="_blank">Cabane Panache Website</a></p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em><p><br/></p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em>